Palo Alto city to pay double wholesale market price for solar energy contracts

The City Council of Palo Alto voted 6-1 to allow solar developers to sell solar energy at $0.16/kWh. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 2, 2016

Florida Supreme Court approves language for utility-backed solar amendment

The approval means the amendment pushed by the utility-backed Consumers for Solar Choice will land a place on the 2016 ballot in November. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 1, 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

NRG Energy says Ivanpah output on track to meet its contracts

NRG Energy said the concentrating solar plant, the largest in the world, is on track to meet its output goals. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 1, 2016

Ohio PUC approves AEP, FirstEnergy plant subsidy requests

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved requests to guarantee income for some aging nuclear and coal plants for American Electric Power and FirstEnergy, but modified the proposals to ensure rate stabilization for consumers. 

By Krysti Shallenberger, Gavin Bade • March 31, 2016

Oregon PUC rejects PacifiCorp bid to trim PURPA contracts

The news comes as a blow to Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Energy, whose utilities have sought to shorten PURPA contract lengths in several states.

By Krysti Shallenberger • March 31, 2016

Chicago's REV: How ComEd is reinventing itself as a smart energy platform

ComEd wants to be the platform for a dynamic and distributed grid, but how they'll earn revenue on it remains an open question. Utility Dive spoke with CEO Anne Pramaggiore to learn more. 

By Gavin Bade • March 31, 2016

Maine solar power bill passes legislative committee

Maine's landmark solar bill was passed out of legislative committee and into the House of Representatives, but advocates fear it will not garner enough votes to potenially override Gov. Paul LePage's veto. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 31, 2016

Massachusetts solar sector boosts pressure on lawmakers to lift net metering cap

Eversource Energy is about 200 kW from hitting the caps on private and public projects, fueling desperation among the solar sector pressuring lawmakers to lift the cap. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 31, 2016

Will utilities become Uber for DERs?

As the industry debates the role of the utility in a distributed energy future, utility leaders are touting a network approach.

By Krysti Shallenberger • March 30, 2016

Minnesota rural co-ops tack on high fixed charges on solar customers

Minnesota's rural electric cooperatives are adding fixed charges which can total as much as $50 dollars for solar customers. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 30, 2016

Arizona public utility data shows some savings with demand charge

But other customers paid significantly more if they did not alter their energy usage during peak demand. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 29, 2016

Vermont regulators propose new net metering rules

The proposal would keep net energy metering and reward beneficial siting while giving renewable energy certificates to utilities. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 29, 2016

Louisiana PSC approves Cleco takeover

After initially rejecting the deal, state regulators approved the acquisition of Cleco by an international consortium led by Macquarie Infrastructure & Real Assets.

By Krysti Shallenberger • March 29, 2016

'Eternal vigilance': DC regulators on the Exelon-Pepco merger and what's next for the PSC

After a 2-1 vote to create the nation's largest utility company, Utility Dive obtained exclusive interviews with regulators on opposing sides of the decision. Here's what they had to say. 

By Gavin Bade • March 29, 2016

How utility collaboration can cut community solar costs up to 40%

A new brief from the Rocky Mountain Institute reveals lessons from its field work in supporting shared solar development.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 28, 2016

Puerto Rico utility gains more time to submit draft rate petition

A new securitization charge is the first step for the Puerto Rico utility to start restructuring its nearly $9 billion debt load. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 28, 2016

Federal agency considers 1st floating offshore wind project

Trident Winds, LLC submitted an unsolicited proposal to develop an 800 MW offshore floating wind project off Morro Bay, California. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 25, 2016

How Maine's power players are reacting to its pathbreaking new solar proposal

A landmark bill offers a plan that could be the next step beyond net energy metering if it gets past partisan Maine politics and doubts about untested ideas.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 24, 2016

In Supreme Court's second power case of 2016, renewable energy advocates are on edge

On paper, the case is about a natural gas plant. But how the U.S. Supreme Court rules a contract between Maryland and a power developer could have broader consequences on interstate markets and renewable energy development.

By Robert Walton • March 24, 2016

Sunrun, TASC fight to keep net metering in Maine

Plan to replace net metering threatens some installers but the difference to customers is small

By Herman K. Trabish • March 24, 2016

EIA: Wind, solar and natural gas make most new electrical generation in 2015

The U.S. Energy Administration expects this trend of wind, solar and natural gas making up the dominant amount of the new electrical generation to conintue into 2016. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 24, 2016

Updated: DC PSC approves Exelon-Pepco merger

The District of Columbia Public Service Commission voted 2-1 today to approve the Exelon-Pepco merger. Approval from D.C. regulators was the final hurdle for the merger, which will now make Exelon the largest electric utility in the U.S.  

By Gavin Bade, Davide Savenije, Krysti Shallenberger • March 23, 2016

Analysts: Exelon-Pepco merger headed for rejection

D.C. regulators are widely expected to decide the fate of the $6.8 billion acquisition today.

By Gavin Bade • March 23, 2016

Getting to 100% renewables: How Hawaii plans to get fossil fuels off the grid

In Hawaii, getting consensus around a 100% renewable energy mandate was the easy part. The hard part comes next.

By Gavin Bade • March 23, 2016

Constellation partners with Sunrun on residential solar option

Constellation's program with Sunrun will be offered to residential customers in Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey and New York.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 23, 2016