Regulation & Policy: Page 112
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WalletHub: San Diego tops list as 2018's greenest US city
The 100 largest U.S. cities were judged on 26 "green" indicators including smart energy policies, amount of green space and greenhouse gas emissions per capita.
By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 15, 2018 -
In a first, PG&E cuts power to 60,000 to prevent wildfires during wind storm
Planned outages during dry, windy conditions are the "last resort" in a wildfire prevention plan rolled out by the utility last year.
By Gavin Bade • Oct. 15, 2018 -
Explore the Trendlineā
adamkaz via Getty ImagesTrendlineThe Energy Transition to Renewables
New policy and business actions are giving a significant boost to renewable energy in the U.S., but opposition is growing and grid interconnection, permitting, labor and other challenges remain.
By Utility Dive staff -
Deep Dive
California strives to nix its natural gas habit without letting the lights go out
The state relies on natural gas for reliability, but won't reach its 100% zero emissions goal without looking to alternatives.
By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 15, 2018 -
Deep Dive
Grid Mod: Transactive and distributed tech demand a new approach
Utilities must prove to regulators that grid upgrades will help integrate a new class of resources reliably and cost-effectively.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2018 -
Deep Dive
Business Models: What utilities can learn from Amazon and Netflix about the future of ratemaking
Time- and location-based price signals can guide customer usage, but electricity subscriptions could give more control.
By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 15, 2018 -
Deep Dive
Generation: Despite headwinds, natural gas reliance set to grow in much of US
Gas-fired generation has been called a bridge to a renewable future, but the length of the bridge depends on where it is.
By Peter Maloney • Oct. 15, 2018 -
Deep Dive
Electricity markets: States reassert authority over power generation
States want the benefits of electricity markets but also want to dictate their outcomes. How federal regulators strike a balance will influence the power mix for decades to come.
By Gavin Bade • Updated Oct. 16, 2018 -
Largest wind project in hemisphere approved for New Mexico, but transmission tie in limbo
Regulators approved a 2.2 GW wind farm but last month turned back an application for a transmission line that is supposed to deliver the clean energy to California markets.
By Gavin Bade • Oct. 12, 2018 -
PJM CEO urges FERC to move on resilience as Trump coal bailout looms
A market-based rule for grid resilience would be preferable to a federal bailout, the head of the nation's largest wholesale power market told senators Thursday.
By Gavin Bade • Updated Oct. 15, 2018 -
Deep Dive
New tool helps states identify EV policies that work, and those that don't
Vehicle purchase incentives have the most impact, according to the National Association of State Energy Officials rubric, while some popular policies may not be particularly effective.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 11, 2018 -
DC's aggressive clean energy bill gets initial hearing
The bill would require the District to use 100% renewable energy by 2032. Currently, the city is on track to get 50% of its energy from renewable sources in that time.
By Jason Plautz • Oct. 11, 2018 -
Opinion
What Nevada can learn from Virginia's experience with electric deregulation
Virginia State Senator Frank Wagner says he watched electric rates rise from deregulation across the East Coast in the 90s and warns Nevada voters to avoid the same fate in November.
By Frank Wagner • Oct. 11, 2018 -
PG&E lines caused 2017 Cascade fire that killed 4, state officials say
The utility did not violate state regulations, CAL FIRE said, but California's insurance laws can hold it financially liable even if it did not break the law.
By Gavin Bade • Updated Oct. 10, 2018 -
Deep Dive
DOE energy storage grants look to the day when renewables rule the grid
DOE program aims at low cost, long duration storage to meet grid needs when renewable penetration rises above 50%.
By Peter Maloney • Oct. 9, 2018 -
Deep Dive
Are regulators hindering EV acceleration?
Utilities and regulators are starting to scale up charging infrastructure, but are finding it takes private vendor and utility "coopetition" to build the interoperable EV charging networks needed to satisfy drivers.
By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 9, 2018 -
Montana case could set FERC precedent for paired storage treatment under PURPA
A utility and developer are battling at FERC over whether wind-plus-storage facilities qualify under the federal law, which compels utilities to purchase power from small renewable generators.
By Gavin Bade • Oct. 9, 2018 -
UN: We have 12 years left to take action on climate change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said limiting global warming to 1.5°C will require "unprecedented changes" in a highly-anticipated report.
By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 8, 2018 -
Michigan regulators clear Consumers PURPA rates, green tariff programs
Solar advocates say the avoided cost rates, on hold since November, will bring more certainty for potential investors.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 8, 2018 -
Dominion, SCANA inch closer to merger with North Carolina PSC staff deal
A settlement with regulatory staff puts the merger on firm ground in the state, but the real drama remains in South Carolina, where Dominion wants customers to pay for part of SCANA's failed nuclear project.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 8, 2018 -
Arizona regulator wants to adopt 80% clean energy plan before gas moratorium ends
Commissioner Andy Tobin wants to have the Arizona Energy Modernization Plan adopted as a final rule by the middle of February — significantly faster than typical rulemaking proceedings.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 8, 2018 -
Mountain Valley stalled, Atlantic Sunrise cleared for service in busy pipeline week
The diverging fortunes of the two Appalachian projects illustrate the struggle between environmental advocates and natural gas companies over the siting and construction of new pipelines.
By Gavin Bade • Oct. 5, 2018 -
Deep Dive
How rising global temperatures will affect 6 major cities
The earth is on a trajectory to warm 3-4°C by 2100. This heat map details how that rise in temperatures will affect major metropolitan hubs.
By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 5, 2018 -
Brattle: Nevada could cost-effectively deploy 1 GW of energy storage by 2030
The state is revamping the planning process for its utilities, and the Public Utilities Commission is considering establishing an energy storage target.
By Peter Maloney • Oct. 4, 2018 -
Washington regulators approve tight rules on community solar
Some community solar advocates are raising concerns about the regulatory tape small entities could face in order to establish new projects.
By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 4, 2018 -
Deep Dive
Proposed Pepco substation highlights DC's grid modernization battle
Pepco's proposed substation faces pushback from district residents and environmentalists as the utility looks to modernize the capital's grid in response to changing demand and population growth.
By Peter Maloney • Oct. 4, 2018