FERC seeks solution to capacity market issue

The agency looks to alternatives as a way to keep power plants running despite falling prices and the effect of new EPA regulations.

By Claire Cameron • June 23, 2014

What the EPA emissions plan means for energy efficiency and demand response

Demand-side efficiency is the biggest bang for your buck, the EPA says. But the agency's draft rule leaves "demand-side efficiency" open to interpretation. 

By Claire Cameron • June 23, 2014

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

Rocky Mountain Power to buy 320 MW of solar

Rocky Mountain Power boosts renewables portfolio in Idaho and Utah after striking new deals with FirstWind.

By Claire Cameron • June 22, 2014

PG&E to spend $100M to harden substations against attacks

The armed attack on PG&E's Metcalf substation has brought grid security back into the national spotlight.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 20, 2014

EPA responds to 'doomsday' predictions about cost of emissions plan

EPA insists plan is doable and affordable.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 20, 2014

How Pepco and rural electric co-ops are preparing grid solutions for solar

The Energy Department is looking for breakthrough concepts that can be implemented at scale and replicated across the energy generation and delivery industries.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 20, 2014

Massachusetts leapfrogs New York in grid modernization race

Navigant's Brett Feldman explains how states are pushing utilities to modernize the grid.

June 20, 2014

EPA chief says emissions plan will boost nuclear power's economics

Nuclear fleets have struggled to compete with natural gas and wind in recent years.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 19, 2014

Decisions loom on aging U.S. coal plant fleet

With environmental regulations looming large, utilities must decide what to do with their oldest, most inefficient coal plants.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 18, 2014

San Francisco proposes competing with PG&E for electricity customers

The city Board of Supervisors has proposed selling hydropower from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir to customers. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 18, 2014

California Gov. re-authorizes funding program for distributed energy resources

Originally intended to grow rooftop solar and small wind, the fund has seen lots of activity from energy storage projects in the last year.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 18, 2014

PSEG CEO Ralph Izzo: Utility of the future will sell less electricity, but play 'more meaningful role'

Electric utilities would be 'a very effective vehicle' for energy efficiency, Izzo told Utility Dive in an interview.

By Davide Savenije • June 18, 2014

Public power chief eyes 'substantial challenges' ahead

At the American Public Power Association's annual meeting, CEO Sue Kelly criticized the EPA and warned of significant challenges ahead for public utilities.

By Claire Cameron • June 18, 2014

Legislators ready strategies to gut EPA emissions rules

At issue: Federal funding for the implementation of new EPA rules. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 17, 2014

Texas utility to be coal-free by 2016

El Paso Electric plans to add new natural gas and utility-scale solar generation.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 17, 2014

Is the Massachusetts utility-solar compromise a model for the industry?

Utilities were not focused on the costs and benefits of solar but on “cost recovery from all ratepayers for whatever the value of the distribution system is, in a way that doesn’t discriminate.”

By Herman K. Trabish • June 17, 2014

Power industry's threat monitor one step behind financial sector

"These are threats the electrical sector hasn't had to worry about as much until fairly recently."

By Claire Cameron • June 17, 2014

Regulators want DTE, Consumers to develop more customer-owned solar

PSC proposes 50 MW of customer-owned solar by end of 2015.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 16, 2014

MISO may double number of power plants pulled out of retirement

In an effort to maintain grid reliability, MISO expects to continue ordering power plants to keep operating even when they are inefficient and unprofitable. 

By Claire Cameron • June 16, 2014

EIA: As coal power fades, natural gas' growth dependent on price, supply

Environmental rules will drive coal power plant retirements.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 16, 2014

Ohio freezes renewables, efficiency mandates until 2017

Gov. Kasich signs controversial bill.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 16, 2014

ACEEE: 10% electric sales decline won't cause utility death spiral

Though mass customer defections are unlikely, new revenue sources are needed to sustain the profitability of electric utilities, according to a new report.

By Claire Cameron • June 16, 2014

Massachusetts utilities ordered to modernize the grid

Massachusetts electric utilities must start planning for a future with rooftop solar, electric vehicles, energy storage, microgrids and more.

By Claire Cameron • June 16, 2014

FERC seeks en banc review of demand response ruling

At issue is FERC's arguably "indirect" regulation of retail markets.

By Claire Cameron • June 13, 2014

Minnesota introduces statewide off-peak EV charging rate

Regulators have required utilities to offer a discounted, overnight refueling rate.

By Claire Cameron • June 13, 2014