Solar at the crossroads: Is utility-scale, distributed or both the way to go?

Sunrun says solar's future is on rooftops, but solar advocates and utilities say an advanced power system with utility-scale and distributed energy resources is a better bet.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 3, 2018

DOE IG report slams agency processes over misallocation of funds

The report found the department misallocated $16 million, with failures in training and communication, along with high levels of staff turnover contributing to the error.

By Peter Maloney • May 3, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

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

Iowa town vote on forming muni from Alliant too close to call

Decorah, Iowa, is considering whether to separate from Alliant and form a municipal utility in order to develop more renewable energy. 

By Robert Walton • May 3, 2018

FERC approves California reliability-must-run contracts

Calpine's Feather, Yuba and Metcalf gas plants are needed for local reliability, the California ISO determined.

By Robert Walton • May 3, 2018

100-Hour storage? DOE launches $30M program to explore new technologies

The program is designed to address the needs of intermittent generation sources, such as wind and solar, by enabling a new set of applications that can provide long lasting backup power.  

By Peter Maloney • May 1, 2018

Iowa legislators approve steep cuts to energy efficiency programs

The bill would allow customers to opt out of efficiency programs and would cap program costs for utilities. It now heads to Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds.

By Robert Walton • May 1, 2018

Michigan lawmakers propose to boost consumer-generated renewables

A bipartisan package of five clean energy bills aims to restore "fair-value pricing" for renewable energy sold back to utility companies, among other changes.

By Robert Walton • May 1, 2018

EPA ozone designations raise concerns of political influence

EPA listed a number of counties as compliant with 2015 ozone standards that it previously recommended for non-attainment, including a Wisconsin county that's the site of a factory touted by President Trump.

By Gavin Bade • May 1, 2018

Lithium-ion domination could block promising storage technologies, MIT finds

Li-ion batteries are good for transportation applications, less so for the grid. But their dominance is making it difficult for producers of alternative storage technologies to survive, much less innovate and scale up.

By Peter Maloney • May 1, 2018

PJM launches fuel security initiative to counter gas reliance

The initiative seeks to value attributes like dual fuel capabilities and onsite fuel supply, but critics say it is too narrow and similar to existing capacity performance rules. 

By Gavin Bade • May 1, 2018

New York grid operator floats carbon pricing proposal

All suppliers inside the New York ISO market would be subject to carbon charges, under the initial proposal. NYISO is designing rules to ensure imports compete fairly, too.

By Robert Walton • May 1, 2018

How big can New England's regional cap-and-trade program get?

The RGGI program has worked so well for its nine Northeastern member states that some say it's ready to go nationwide.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 1, 2018

NuScale receives first phase design approval for small modular reactor

There are five more phases in the process, but NuScale says the first is the most rigorous and now expects the NRC to complete certification by September 2020.

By Peter Maloney • May 1, 2018

PJM: FirstEnergy nukes can retire without reliability threat

The grid operator says three plants subject to an emergency bailout request at the Department of Energy can retire without putting electricity service at risk.

By Gavin Bade • April 30, 2018

Utilities, oil interests clash over EV policy at conservative policy summit

The battle at the American Legislative Exchange Council shows how utility interests are diverging from those of the oil and gas sector in an era of growing renewable energy and electric vehicles. 

By Gavin Bade • April 30, 2018

California fines PG&E $97.5M for improper talks in San Bruno pipeline case

It's the latest in a series of fines totaling more than $2 billion and related to the 2010 natural gas pipeline explosion, which killed eight and destroyed a neighborhood.

By Robert Walton • April 30, 2018

Illinois energy law revives renewables while aiding nuclear

The Future Energy Jobs Act is also expanding energy efficiency in the state, but the nuclear subsidies are being challenged in court.

By Peter Maloney • April 30, 2018

DOE gives $60M for advanced nukes, but industry wants better regs

There is growing interest in small modular reactors, but the licensing process must modernize along with the technology, according to a new Nuclear Energy Institute report.

By Robert Walton • April 27, 2018

Pruitt: EPA will seek 'comprehensive rule' to alter New Source Review

The agency's recently announced proposal to limit scientific input to its rules could influence how it rewrites NSR, which governs emissions from new and modified sources.

By Gavin Bade • April 27, 2018

The innovations just keep coming in the corporate-utility deal space

Utilities and corporate power buyers are finding new innovations in their collaborative efforts to drive the growth of renewables and cut emissions.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 26, 2018

Arizona utilities cautious over costs, reliability for proposed 80% clean energy mandate

Meanwhile, two competing ballot proposals would seek to amend the state's constitution to hit 50% renewable energy by 2050 — setting the stage for another political showdown in the state. 

By Robert Walton • April 26, 2018

PJM generators, DR providers clash over seasonal resources at FERC

Demand response providers say rules barring seasonal resources from capacity contracts are little more than an effort to boost market revenues for generators.

By Gavin Bade • April 25, 2018

Hawaii Gov. Ige signs law mandating performance-based utility regulation

The law goes further than other performance-based efforts, directing the PUC to "break the direct link" between utility revenues and capital investments.

By Gavin Bade • April 25, 2018

Cutting loose generation lifts earnings for FirstEnergy

The company's prospects also were bolstered by an agreement with creditors in the bankruptcy proceeding of subsidiaries FirstEnergy Solutions and FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating.

By Peter Maloney • April 25, 2018

New PUC regulator to take a seat as Hawaii forges ahead to 100% renewables

Jennifer Potter will replace outgoing state PUC Commissioner Lorraine Akiba, whose term expires in June.  

By Robert Walton • April 24, 2018