FERC upholds right of cooperatives to buy from independent generators

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has upheld the right of cooperatives to buy power under PURPA.

By Peter Maloney • June 27, 2016

California PUC issues revised self-generation rules favoring storage

The California Public Utilities Commission has revised the rules for its SGIP program.

By Peter Maloney • June 27, 2016

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

Ohio Gov. Kasich taps energy lawyer to fill vacant PUCO seat

If confirmed, Columbus attorney Howard Petricoff would be the first Democrat to serve on the commission in a year. 

By Robert Walton • June 27, 2016

3 transmission projects that illustrate the importance in modernizing the grid

Big power line expansions in ERCOT, SPP and MISO are helping shape a cleaner energy system, but building them was a slog.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 24, 2016

Exelon plans to build 200 MW wind farm in Ohio

Exelon's bid to build a wind farm comes after the utility backed measures to support phasing out wind credits a few years ago, which led AWEA to oust Exelon from the organization. 

By Peter Maloney • June 23, 2016

With Jon Wellinghoff, SolarCity looks to resolve net metering disputes in Nevada and elsewhere

SolarCity's new policy chief discusses Nevada's net metering battle and the company's policy strategy.

By Krysti Shallenberger • June 23, 2016

EIA: Clean Power Plan emissions cuts depend on state compliance decisions

Mass-based compliance will result in slightly larger reductions in carbon emissions, a new EIA assessment of Clean Power Plan compliance decisions estimates. 

By Gavin Bade • June 23, 2016

The DER pivot: Grid Edge Forum illustrates utility shift toward a distributed grid

Momentum is gathering behind a utility sector turn to distributed energy resources, attendees at the annual conference said this week. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 23, 2016

Illinois regulators greenlight stricter disclosure rules on utility donations

The state allows utilities like Commonwealth Edison to fund charitable donations with ratepayer funds, but will now require greater disclosure of where those funds go.

By Robert Walton • June 23, 2016

As SDG&E edges closer to net metering cap, solar installations not expected to slow

San Diego Gas & Electric is on the cusp of hitting California's net metering cap, which means NEM 2.0 kicks in with higher fees and time-of-use rates. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • June 22, 2016

Dominion, Sierra Club go to court in Chesapeake coal ash contamination case

The Sierra Club is suing Dominion Virginia Power for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. 

By Shalina Chatlani • June 22, 2016

Tesla makes offer to buy SolarCity

The deal, which SolarCity's board of directors has yet to vote on, would create a vertically-integrated clean energy company offering products from electric vehicles to battery storage and rooftop solar.

By Davide Savenije, Krysti Shallenberger, Gavin Bade • June 21, 2016

PG&E to close Diablo Canyon nuclear plant, replace it with renewables, efficiency, storage

PG&E will not seek to renew operation licenses for the last nuclear plant in the state, allowing it to fully close in 2025.

By Gavin Bade • June 21, 2016

Hawaii PUC staff outlines bill credits for community renewable energy programs

The PUC staff was responding to proposals made by Hawaiian Electric and Kauai Island Electric Utility Cooperative in response to a state law. 

By Peter Maloney • June 21, 2016

Federal appeals court backs North Dakota in cross-border pollution case with Minnesota

A federal appeals court has sided with North Dakota in a suit against Minnesota law seeking to ban cross-border CO2 emissions.

By Peter Maloney • June 20, 2016

Montana PSC suspends PURPA rates for small solar farms

Until a new rate is decided, developers will need to negotiate with power providers for rates on a case-by-case basis. 

By Peter Maloney • June 20, 2016

Updated: DC regulators deny rehearing on Exelon-Pepco merger; opponents plan to sue

Opponents have 60 days to file a challenge with the D.C. Court of Appeals after regulators refused to take up the Exelon-Pepco merger again.

By Krysti Shallenberger, Davide Savenije • June 17, 2016

FERC issues order on price formation fixes for organized markets

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission finalized a rule establishing new shortage pricing and transaction settlement interval requirements for organized markets.  

By Krysti Shallenberger • June 16, 2016

Beyond rate reforms: Bundling strategies could resolve net metering battles

While no silver bullet is found in a single strategy, an NREL study suggests bundling several approaches could address both solar and utilities' concerns about rooftop solar. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 16, 2016

California local renewables are getting robbed, but CAISO can help

Over 40 stakeholder organizations have been urging CAISO to eliminate transmission charges on local generation, which does not use transmission lines, writes Clean Coalition's Craig Lewis. 

By Craig Lewis • June 16, 2016

Pepco merger done, Exelon CEO Chris Crane wants market reforms to save nuclear fleet

The first six months of Exelon’s year saw it become the largest utility in the country, but also announce the early closure of two nuclear plants.

By Gavin Bade • June 16, 2016

Study: Falling cost of solar and wind could limit energy storage profitability

A recent study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology examines economics of combining storage with renewable resources.

By Peter Maloney • June 15, 2016

'Should have started yesterday': Why better transmission planning is urgently necessary for tomorrow's grid

The power mix is changing fast and it will cost ratepayers if transmission planners don’t catch up quickly, according to a new report from the Brattle Group.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 15, 2016

PPAs or RECs? New York policymakers debate how to reach 50%-by-2030 renewables goal

In a technical conference held last week, New York policy makers debated the best way to meet the proposed Clean Energy Standard, which calls for utilities to transition away from fossil fuels. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • June 15, 2016

Study: Coal ash waste sullies groundwater in 5 states

A new study documenting coal ash contamination in groundwater provides new scientific footing in the ongoing debate over the effects of coal ash contamination. 

By Shalina Chatlani • June 15, 2016