Bipartisan Senate support for nuclear grows with $7.5B bill to extend life of current fleet

The bill is a continuation of the Senate's focus on supporting new nuclear technologies while improving the economic viability of the current fleet.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 5, 2019

Ohio nuclear and coal bailout is a loss for nuclear power and the climate

HB6, which links nuclear power to coal and not renewables, risks undermining the burgeoning bipartisan consensus that nuclear power will play a crucial role in tackling climate change, while attracting to nuclear the ire usually reserved for coal.

By Randolph Bell • Aug. 5, 2019

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Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

Dominion's 100% renewables tariff could kill Virginia's retail choice ambitions

Competitive retail providers are fighting for customers in the state, alongside a growing number of displeased ratepayers.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 5, 2019

ALJ dismisses Duke attempt to reverse North Carolina coal ash excavation order

Duke will proceed with its appeal of state regulators' finding that complete excavation is the only way to completely protect public health and the environment.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 5, 2019

9th Circuit contradicts FERC in favor of solar developers in California PURPA case

The federal court ruled the state did not have a mechanism in place to effectively implement PURPA, the law intended to drive utilities to purchase power from smaller renewables generators.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 2, 2019

EPA moves to roll back environmental protection requirements for utility coal ash sites

Companies with coal ash fill projects larger than 12,400 tons must have environmental protections in place, but EPA now only wants those requirements at sites that have geological vulnerabilities, with no upper limit on tonnage.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 31, 2019

California's EV transition gets boost with state-automaker deal; Trump threatens to intervene

The deal calls for continued annual reductions of vehicle greenhouse gas emissions through 2026, but a White House official said "the federal government, not a single state, should set this standard."

By Robert Walton • July 30, 2019

FERC staff drafts environmental 'pass' for Mountain Valley Pipeline expansion

NextEra Energy's joint venture would add two delivery points to meet Dominion Energy's natural gas supply needs in North Carolina.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 30, 2019

How advanced project management enables utility compliance

While the emergence of digital tools challenges the status quo, technology also provides an opportunity to significantly improve the speed and accuracy of compliance.

July 30, 2019

LaFleur cautions on administrative interference as she exits FERC

The commissioner speaks frankly about a missed opportunity — opening a natural gas pipeline docket in 2016 — and challenges ahead.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 29, 2019

FERC orders PJM to postpone capacity auction

The grid operator asked for certainty ahead of its August auction as FERC works on rules that incorporate aggregated distributed resources into the market.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 26, 2019

Few US cities on track to meet climate goals: ACEEE

Cities took on more than 265 climate initiatives in 2018, but most aren't adequately tracking their progress, and nearly 35% of cities have not set GHG reduction targets. 

By Katie Pyzyk • July 26, 2019

Chicago considers municipalizing ComEd

The utility's contract with the city expires at the end of 2020 and city leaders believe they could accelerate decarbonization and lower rates through municipalization.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 25, 2019

Harvesting hybrid solutions from performance-based rates: 'Not all or nothing'

While performance incentives can't "bribe a utility into being something fundamentally different," they can fundamentally reduce the friction of transition.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 24, 2019

Federal bill could restore biogas tax credits, bolster organics infrastructure

The expiration of a 30% investment tax credit — responsible for growing the wind and solar sectors — has reduced financing options for anaerobic digesters in recent years.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Sept. 27, 2019

Ohio's nuke and coal subsidies will likely be challenged at the ballot

A coalition of independent energy producers and environmentalists are looking to launch a referendum, which could prevent HB 6 from becoming law until November 2020.

By John Funk • July 23, 2019

Performance-based regulation: Seeking the new utility business model

As the push to upend traditional utility business models grows across the country, new leading efforts are showing results where others missed the mark.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 23, 2019

Ohio Gov DeWine signs controversial nuke subsidy bill

The bill creates a $1.1 billion nuclear subsidy and provides $50 million per year in coal plant subsidies.

By John Funk • Updated July 23, 2019

Federal, North Carolina, Virginia governments sue Duke over 2014 coal ash spill

The action seeks to hold Duke accountable for environmental harm incurred by the spill, which released 39,000 tons of coal ash into the Dan River.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 22, 2019

New York awards record 1,700 MW offshore wind contracts

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced two separate projects being developed by Equinor and Ørsted as the first segment of the state's 9,000 MW offshore wind target.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 19, 2019

Mayors call for new 'Marshall Plan,' federal resiliency office to fight climate change

A committee of 10 Democrats promised to continue studying climate change, holding more hearings and fostering partnerships with governments at all other levels as well as with the private sector.

By Chris Teale • July 18, 2019

Berkeley sets historic law banning natural gas from new buildings

Berkeley is the first U.S. city to pass such a measure, designed to curb GHG emissions and prepare new buildings for electric infrastructure.

By Kristin Musulin • July 18, 2019

NRC may cut back nuclear reactor inspections as industry costs mount

The nuclear industry has long advocated for less costly inspections, but some have raised safety concerns.

By HJ Mai • July 18, 2019

NARUC: FERC went beyond 'authority of power' in issuing Order 841

The group filed a petition for review on Tuesday, to the disappointment of the energy storage industry.

By HJ Mai • July 17, 2019

Sen. Murkowski teases prospects for storage as committee advances 22 energy bills

While the initiatives did not include energy storage-focused bills, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair said a second mark-up can be expected in September.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 17, 2019