The energy system is ‘inherently racist,’ advocates say. How are utilities responding to calls for greater equity?

Utility commitments to customer equity, energy affordability and equitable access to clean energy resources are becoming more common, but energy justice advocates say companies need to do more. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 26, 2022

Sunnova urges California PUC to dismiss PG&E, SCE ‘sky is falling’ concerns, review microgrid proposal

“This is a real opportunity to examine what's going to be a fairly prevalent use case,” said Robert Perry, a consultant for World Business Academy, one of 16 organizations supporting a commission review of the plan.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 25, 2022

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

Clean energy expertise for the PJM board should be the easiest vote members ever cast

At a time when some 95% of the energy projects waiting to connect to the PJM grid are solar, wind, hybrid or battery storage, how could the grid’s board of directors not include someone with expertise in these energy sources? 

By Albert Pollard • Oct. 24, 2022

PJM capacity proposal: fuel for the ongoing market ‘crisis,’ or a needed step to limit overprocurement?

Power plant owners pressed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reject the largest U.S. grid operator’s proposed capacity market rule changes while environmental and ratepayer advocates supported them.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 24, 2022

Chemical compliance in New York

Utilities across the country face a wide range of requirements and restrictions. But Con Edison makes chemical compliance work with software and training — and so can you.

Oct. 24, 2022

FERC deems Evergy, Bluescape investment firm to be affiliated in market oversight ruling

The ruling will help ensure the integrity of power markets and protect utility customers, Public Citizen’s Tyson Slocum said. The group wants the agency to make the same finding for FirstEnergy, Blackstone and Icahn Enterprises, he said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 21, 2022

How two Minnesota cooperatives agreed to a new relationship to prepare for the future grid

An agreement last month between Great River Energy and Connexus is a novel way for generation and transmission cooperatives and local co-ops to develop new relationships during the energy transition.

By Gabriel Chan and Matthew Grimley • Oct. 21, 2022

Xcel, First Solar, other clean energy companies warn building standard change threatens wind, solar projects

“The stated goal of FEMA’s proposal is increased grid reliability, but when you needlessly make it harder to build resilient clean energy, the obvious effect is a reduction in reliability,” the Solar Energy Industries Association CEO said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 19, 2022

Tesla, Google, other corporate power buyers back FERC interconnection reform plan but see pitfalls

Google urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to make sure any final interconnection rules don’t give utilities an advantage over independent power producers.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 17, 2022

California’s far-reaching climate law will usher in a zero-carbon economy. Now the state needs a follow-up plan.

Our clean energy deployment plan calls for a single agency to lead state efforts while ensuring transparency, accountability, equity and environmental justice.

By Armond Cohen and Michael Colvin • Oct. 17, 2022

NGOs sue EPA to force it to act on Texas’s plan exempting 8 coal-fired plants from particulate matter limits

The Lone Star State’s long-time interpretation of national health-based air quality standards has resulted in significant increases in particulate matter pollution, environmental groups say.

By Elizabeth McCarthy • Oct. 15, 2022

Ameren Missouri expects $1.3B in Inflation Reduction Act tax credits will help offset customer rates by 4.5%

The IRA’s benefits could be higher depending on how nuclear tax credits are calculated, the utility said in a Wednesday filing at the Missouri Public Service Commission.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 14, 2022

Sempra Energy hydrogen pipeline, blending proposals face opposition at the California PUC

“The commission should not be in the business of sanctioning aspirations and speculative ventures,” Utility Consumers’ Action Network said about the Angeles Link hydrogen pipeline proposal.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 14, 2022

State PUCs should re-examine planning, procurement costs in wake of Inflation Reduction Act: report

“PUCs should insist that utilities redo integrated resource plans and resource solicitations, despite the procedural headache,” Energy Innovation Policy & Technology said in a report released Thursday.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 14, 2022

What upcoming US elections could mean for the Inflation Reduction Act, FERC and US energy policy

A Republican Senate "might be the end, potentially the end, of Richard Glick at FERC,” said Ari Peskoe, director of Harvard Law School's Electricity Law Initiative.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 13, 2022

Connecticut energy and environment chief outlines updated clean energy plan on path to zero emissions

Filling unmet portions of previous solicitations with solar, developing transmission for offshore wind and adding energy storage and anaerobic digesters are the focus of the updated plan.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 13, 2022

Major utilities oppose Sunnova’s ‘micro-utility’ microgrid proposal at California PUC

Pacific Gas & Electric Co., San Diego Gas & Electric Co. and Southern California Edison say the California Public Utilities Commission should finish a pending rulemaking regarding microgrids before it reviews Sunnova’s proposal.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 12, 2022

FERC isn’t acting fast enough to strengthen the grid. Here’s one thing Congress can do.

Congress can and should shore up energy resilience by establishing a clear standard for inter-regional transmission support, the authors write.

By Liza Reed and Andrew Xu • Oct. 11, 2022

How an unlikely trio helped secure billions for rural electric cooperatives

As rural communities watch wind and solar farms begin to dot their landscape, many want to ensure rural America can own, not just host, the clean energy transition, the authors write.

By Duane Highley, Ramón Cruz and Erik Hatlestad • Oct. 10, 2022

EPA launches initiative to speed review of new chemicals for electric vehicle, clean energy sectors

The effort covers mixed metal oxides, which are a key component in lithium-ion batteries and can also be used in solar cells, wind turbines and other clean energy applications.

By Larry Pearl • Oct. 7, 2022

Washington to launch carbon cap-and-trade program in January, with tie to California program possible

“This new program will help us decarbonize our economy, improve air quality, and put Washington at the forefront of the fast-growing global era of clean energy,” Gov. Jay Inslee said.

By Elizabeth McCarthy • Oct. 6, 2022

MISO energy users cannot leave system without paying their capacity fees: FERC

Industrial companies failed to show that it was unfair they would have to make the capacity payments they owe if they leave the Midcontinent grid operator, federal regulators said Monday.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 6, 2022

97% of smart meters fail to provide promised customer benefits. Can $3B in new funding change that?

Interoperability standards can deliver “non-discriminatory access” to real-time data from new smart meters to fulfill promises of customer savings and other system benefits, energy managers say.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 5, 2022

Broken markets: Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, and the global strain on the single clearing price

A single clearing price auction is no longer a viable or desirable way to sell power because the power market is now segmented into differentiated products, the authors write.

By Ray Gifford and Matt Larson • Oct. 4, 2022

Virginia governor calls for easing clean energy goals, injecting competition into utility sector

Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R, also aims to create a nuclear innovation hub and develop an advanced reactor within a decade.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 4, 2022