Regulation & Policy: Page 211
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Deep Dive
What the Hughes v. Talen Supreme Court decision means for state power incentives
A narrow ruling means big questions still remain for renewable energy and recent power subsidies approved in Ohio.
By Robert Walton • April 25, 2016 -
Biomass amendments in energy legislation spark debate over 'carbon-neutrality'
Dozens of environmental groups say they cannot support the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016 because of how it treats carbon emissions from biomass generation.
By Robert Walton • April 25, 2016 -
Explore the Trendlineâž”
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 -
Arizona utilities back initiative to counter SolarCity-supported ballot proposal
Days after solar advocates announced a ballot proposal to protect net metering in Arizona, a state lawmaker has a competing proposal she says has the support of the state's regulated utilities.
By Herman K. Trabish • April 25, 2016 -
ComEd touts new solar incentives in Illinois legislative push
The utility has a slate of proposals in front of state lawmakers and on Friday, announced new rebates for solar customers to accompany proposed rate changes.
By Herman K. Trabish • April 25, 2016 -
Deep Dive
As utilities build toward RPS standards, costs, carve-outs raise concerns
An LBNL report shows utilities are largely meeting their renewable energy targets, but new challenges are emerging.
By Herman K. Trabish • April 25, 2016 -
Report: Big US utilities shelled out $400M in political spending
Litigation and political donations highlight how utilities are "digging in their heels" when it comes to the changing business landscape, according to Investor Responsibility Research Center Institute Executive Director Jon Lukomnik.
By Robert Walton • April 25, 2016 -
Updated: DC ratepayer advocate, Attorney General file for reconsideration of Exelon-Pepco deal
OPC, Grid 2.0 Working Group and other merger intervenors say the procedure for merger approval was legally flawed.
By Gavin Bade • April 22, 2016 -
Deep Dive
On Earth Day, natural gas is the power sector's biggest environmental problem
Gas played a big role in stabilizing U.S. emissions, but the world will need to look beyond the fuel if it wants to hit the goals laid out in the Paris Climate Accord.
By Gavin Bade • April 22, 2016 -
Weaker winds slowed wind energy output growth in 2015
The 5.1% increase in wind energy output last year was the smallest since 1999, EIA reports, thanks to slow wind speeds in the West.
By Herman K. Trabish • April 22, 2016 -
Feds move offshore wind lease areas from North to South Carolina
The shift came after North Carolina officials raised concerns about wind projects' effects on ocean views and whale habitat.
By Herman K. Trabish • April 22, 2016 -
Deep Dive
Declining prices, stable outlook drive utilities, large companies to wind power
Natural gas is the new power sector leader, but utilities are increasingly looking to renewables, especially wind, as a hedge against long-term gas price volatility and future environmental regulations.
By Herman K. Trabish • April 21, 2016 -
SolarCity ends support for watchdog group investigating Arizona regulators
The watchdog group Checks and Balances project had sought to expose communications between Arizona regulators, utility executives, and members of an outside political group.
By Herman Trabish, Gavin Bade • April 21, 2016 -
Indiana Supreme Court rules to keep lawmaker-utility emails private
But it was a partial victory for open records advocates, with the court finding the legislature is subject freedom of information laws.
By Robert Walton • April 21, 2016 -
Updated: Senate passes first broad energy legislation since 2007
The bill from Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) would boost efficiency programs and ease project siting, but it must be reconciled with a House bill that earned a veto threat from President Obama.
By Gavin Bade • April 20, 2016 -
NY utilities, solar companies propose transition away from retail net metering
In what seems an unlikely alliance, a group of New York utilities and solar companies have filed a proposal to require payment from major solar farms or big C&I solar arrays to make up for the cost-shift instead of changes in residential net metering.
By Krysti Shallenberger • April 20, 2016 -
Citing favorable policy climate, Sunrun expands operations in South Carolina
Solar supports put in place by 2014's Act 236 made the South Carolina decision an easy one, company officials said.
By Herman K. Trabish • April 20, 2016 -
Former ACC chair leads push for Arizona ballot measure to protect solar
A new constitutional amendment pushed by solar installers would preserve retail rate net metering and prevent solar-specific rate changes through 2022.
By Herman K. Trabish • April 20, 2016 -
Green groups sue Duke Energy for Clean Water Act violations from coal ash
The Roanoke River Basin Association and the Southern Environmental Law Center announced last Monday that they will sue Duke Energy for violations of the federal Clean Water Act at its Mayo Steam plant.
By Shalina Chatlani • April 20, 2016 -
Deep Dive
SDG&E 'ahead of the curve' to meet California's 50% RPS with help from storage
Ahead of schedule in meeting RPS targets, San Diego Gas & Electric looks to storage and energy efficiency to accommodate more renewables.
By Peter Maloney • April 19, 2016 -
Updated: Supreme Court rules in FERC's favor in Hughes v. Talen power case
Not all incentive programs supporting in-state generation are illegal, the court ruled, but Maryland's initiative stepped on FERC's exclusive jurisdiction over wholesale market rates.
By Gavin Bade • April 19, 2016 -
FERC seeks input from ISOs on possible market barriers to energy storage
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has given wholesale market operators until May 2 to docment barriers that may exist to adding energy storage resources to their grids.
By Peter Maloney • April 19, 2016 -
Deep Dive
'Graceful transition': ISO-NE's CEO on how wholesale markets can ease decarbonization
A well-designed capacity market can help ensure reliability at high levels of renewable energy penetration, argues ISO-New England's Gordon van Welie.
By Gavin Bade • April 19, 2016 -
New York, Connecticut under fire for use of RGGI funds
New York and Connecticut have come under fire for proposals to use funds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative auctions for uses other than efficiency and clean energy.
By Robert Walton • April 19, 2016 -
SEIA President Rhone Resch steps down after 12 years
The national trade group for solar companies grew from 65 members to more than 1,000 under Resch's leadership.
By Herman K. Trabish • April 19, 2016 -
North Carolina regulators reject solar third party ownership test case from green group
Duke Energy welcomed the decision, which sees it preserve its status as a monopoly electricity provider in its service area.
By Herman K. Trabish • April 19, 2016