Understanding grid resilience implications for market design: Beyond the NETL study

Researchers at Resources for the Future and the R Street Institute offer an alternative approach to the recent National Energy Technology Laboratory study.

By Karen Palmer, Devin Hartman and Daniel Shawhan • April 24, 2018

Pacific Power analysis shows storage pilot projects currently uneconomic

Based on its projections, the utility estimates that energy storage has the potential to become cost effective in 2029.

By Peter Maloney • April 24, 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

Performance-based regulation: How Minnesota is inching toward a new oversight model

As performance-based regulation goes before Minnesota’s regulators, stakeholders propose being "discerning" and "surgical" about its use.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 24, 2018

FERC Order 845 opens door a little wider for energy storage

The commission's order on interconnection agreements makes it easier to combine storage with generation

By Peter Maloney • April 23, 2018

Xcel pulls out of Mountain West in blow to SPP market expansion

The utility said it sees too many risks in the transmission group's plan to join the Southwest Power Pool, a regional electricity market. 

By Gavin Bade • April 23, 2018

FERC moves to shore up potential cyber vulnerabilities

Regulators approved revised standards that will primarily cover "transient electronic devices," such as thumb drives and laptops.

By Robert Walton • April 23, 2018

California customer choice advocates, IOUs face off on departing load charge

As customers leave IOUs for new providers, commissioners must balance costs. Will they choose a new approach or a really new approach?

By Herman K. Trabish • April 23, 2018

FERC issues NOI seeking comments on gas pipeline evaluations

The NOI seeks comment on how FERC evaluates the need for pipelines, its use of eminent domain, the environmental impact of pipeline projects and the efficiency of FERC's permitting process. 

By Gavin Bade • April 20, 2018

DOE's Walker: National security assessment broader than grid reliability

The agency's interpretation of a national security risk will be central to its evaluation of coal and nuclear bailout proposals from FirstEnergy and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV).

By Gavin Bade • April 20, 2018

Hawaii launches performance-based rate proceeding to drive renewables

The state has a goal of reaching 100% renewable energy by 2045. The Public Utilities Commission's new effort is meant to support that transition.  

By Peter Maloney • April 20, 2018

South Carolina vote to lower electric bills could imperil Dominion-SCANA deal

Lawmakers are closer to cutting rates for SCE&G customers, who are paying for the failed Summer nuclear project, but differing House and Senate approaches need to be reconciled.

By Robert Walton • April 19, 2018

Nevada's retail choice battle will greatly impact solar, everyone agrees. But for better or worse?

Nevadans will vote in November on whether to amend the state's constitution to minimize regulations, eliminate legal monopolies and create retail choice in its energy market.  

By Herman K. Trabish • April 19, 2018

Xcel first utility to get FAA approval to run inspection drones beyond line of sight

The company will use drones to survey transmission lines near Denver. Once that's complete, it will work with the FAA to extend similar operations to other states in its territory.

By Peter Maloney • April 19, 2018

Alliant heading to 30% wind capacity in Iowa as regulators approve another 500 MW

The Iowa Utilities Board is allowing Alliant subsidiary Interstate Power and Light to earn an 11% return on equity on the new wind projects.

By Peter Maloney • April 19, 2018

Chatterjee opposes MOPR as 'standard solution' for state policies

The announcement makes clear a majority of FERC regulators oppose the "standard solution" provision likely to impact the evaluation of PJM's capacity market proposals. 

By Gavin Bade • April 19, 2018

Line fault again plunges Puerto Rico into blackout

While nearly all the island's generation is back online after Hurricane Maria, the grid that supports it remains fragile and PREPA lacks sufficient reserves to resist minor disruptions. 

By Gavin Bade • April 18, 2018

New Hampshire governor's energy plan leans on nuclear, gas

The new plan by Gov. Sununu aims to diminish the cost impacts of renewable energy procurement by neighboring states, assuming those contracts will be above market rates.

By Peter Maloney • April 18, 2018

FERC chair takes up coal lobby line on plant retirements

Chairman Kevin McIntyre told House lawmakers he is concerned entire resource categories could "go the way of the dodo bird." It's a line common among the coal and nuclear lobbies, and few others. 

By Gavin Bade • April 17, 2018

State-federal concerns could dim FERC's landmark storage order

Wider access to a variety of markets has been hailed as the basis for energy storage growth, but jurisdictional issues could thwart an overarching solution.

By Peter Maloney • April 17, 2018

Exelon, FE nuke closures would reverse PJM wind, solar benefits: Brattle report

Closing four plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania would harm the environment and raise electricity costs for consumers, a recent analysis finds.

By Peter Maloney • April 17, 2018

EPSA rails against FirstEnergy emergency request, New Jersey nuke subsidies

The trade group for independent power plant owners argues both requests amount to unnecessary bailouts for failing power plants.  

By Gavin Bade • April 16, 2018

NGOs challenge New Orleans regulatory plan, Entergy peaker

The New Orleans City Council approved Entergy's proposed gas plant earlier this year, but environmental advocates say the City Council failed to examine "more benign" alternatives, like renewable energy. 

By Peter Maloney • April 16, 2018

Oregon's chief utility regulator resigns abruptly

Lisa Hardie, appointed in 2016 by Gov. Kate Brown to the Public Utilities Commission, didn't give a reason for her resignation. She will be replaced as Chair by Megan Decker.

By Robert Walton • April 13, 2018

New Jersey passes bills for nuke subsidies, 50% RPS, 2 GW storage target

Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is expected to sign the measures, but proposed reforms to PJM's capacity market make the nuclear subsides' impact on wholesale power prices unclear.

By Gavin Bade • April 13, 2018

US led surging global energy storage market in 2017, GTM says

While the U.S. remains the leader in energy storage deployments, with 431 MWh out of a global total of 2.3 GWh in 2017, China is rising quickly into second.

By Peter Maloney • April 13, 2018