FERC to hike scrutiny of JPMorgan power sector actions after finding link to private equity firm IIF

J.P. Morgan Investment can make “virtually every major decision” for IIF, which owns El Paso Electric, nearly 5 GW of gas-fired capacity and other energy assets, FERC said last week.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 26, 2023

PJM plan for distributed energy aggregations would block virtual power plants: Tesla

Tesla on Friday urged federal regulators to approve measures so residential aggregations in VPPs in PJM can be “achieved at scale and provide transformative reliability value and reduce consumer energy costs.”

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 25, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

Retail ‘choice’: A bad deal for consumers and the planet

Data from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Illinois and several other states confirm that families pay far too much when they sign up for alternative electric supply instead of sticking with their utility companies.

By Jenifer Bosco • Sept. 22, 2023

Record 13% of Eastern Interconnect capacity failed in Winter Storm Elliott: FERC, NERC

FERC commissioners called on Congress Thursday to name an agency for gas reliability oversight as commission and NERC staff issued cold-weather recommendations.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 22, 2023

$4.6B for climate action plan implementation available from EPA

Measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions the most will get priority in Environmental Protection Agency funding decisions.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 21, 2023

NERC wants smaller renewables, batteries to register as bulk-power assets over reliability concerns

About 14% of inverter-based resources that are connected to the bulk-power system are not currently required to register with the North American Electric Reliability Corp. or adhere to its reliability standards.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 21, 2023

Maryland officials press FERC to reject PJM directive to Exelon for $785M in transmission upgrades

The PJM Interconnection failed to consider energy storage and other options to handle Talen Energy’s plan to retire its Brandon Shores power plant, according to Maryland officials.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Sept. 21, 2023

Rising electrification requires a dramatic shift to integrated planning of DER, bulk resources: Xcel VP

Effective distribution system planning and merging analytic insights into comprehensive electricity planning both face barriers, analysts and stakeholders said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 20, 2023

Vistra plans to sell nearly 400 MW in PJM to ease market power fears from Energy Harbor deal

The plan to sell generating units in Ohio will accelerate the merger review process, the companies told federal regulators Monday. They plan to close the $6.3 billion deal by the end of the year.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 19, 2023

When it comes to government funding for clean energy, money isn’t everything

The rush to secure billions in clean energy and infrastructure funding has the potential to be disastrous if it goes wrong.

By Anne Clawson • Sept. 18, 2023

SOO Green underground transmission line between MISO, PJM clears key hurdle with Iowa approval

The proposed 350-mile SOO Green project advances as two Democrats introduce a bill in Congress to spur interregional transmission capacity, partly to bolster grid reliability.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 18, 2023

Competitive power markets are cleaner, cheaper and safer

Competitive market systems have proven more effective at driving cost-effective decarbonization than single-utility markets, all while fostering reliability and long-term planning.

By Jon Wellinghoff and Pat Wood • Sept. 15, 2023

SEC Chair Gensler says Scope 3 emissions flap delays final climate risk rule

Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee, during a series of hearings in July, stepped up their opposition to the climate risk disclosure proposal.

By Jim Tyson • Sept. 14, 2023

The grid needs to get together

To transform the grid to meet the reliability and resilience needs of consumers, we must have meaningful interregional transmission policy in this country.

By Kelly Speakes-Backman • Sept. 14, 2023

IRA could cut economy-wide carbon emissions by up to 43% by 2030: EPA

In the electric power sector, EPA said that emissions could be reduced by up to 83% below 2005 levels.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 13, 2023

FERC’s Christie raises issues that need raising about the RTO state of mind

Recent remarks by Commissioner Mark Christie raise a valid question: What is the state of mind of RTO/ISO constructs, and can they drive an affordable, reliable and decarbonized future?

By Raymond L. Gifford and Matthew S. Larson • Sept. 13, 2023

EPA’s proposed carbon rules omit both the peaker problem and the peaker solution

The EPA completely overlooked co-located battery storage as a “best system of emissions reduction” in its latest proposal to reduce carbon emissions from fossil-fueled power plants.

By Shelley Robbins • Sept. 12, 2023

Price over performance: Why green energy is different from previous technology revolutions

The green energy revolution won't provide the massive performance advantages seen in previous technology revolutions. Instead, it must be driven by price.

By Robin Gaster • Sept. 8, 2023

California central buyer proposal could boost Pacific offshore wind industry, advocates say

California has adopted preliminary planning goals to install between 2 and 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and 25 GW by 2045.

By Kavya Balaraman • Updated Sept. 18, 2023

To spur clean energy, transmission buildout, NRDC calls for focus on affected communities

The Natural Resources Defense Council on Wednesday recommended steps to lift clean energy barriers, including quickly designating “national interest” transmission corridors.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 7, 2023

Ninth Circuit largely upholds FERC PURPA reform decision affecting small solar, wind

The appeals court on Tuesday told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to assess how its decision would affect the environment but didn’t vacate the order.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 6, 2023

DOE’s error-ridden analysis on coal CCS project threatens climate and engagement goals

Evaluating whether technologies like hydrogen and carbon capture provide more benefit than harm is a critical activity for the U.S. on our decarbonization journey.

By Emily Grubert • Sept. 5, 2023

As Ørsted, others seek up to 71% hike in clean energy contract prices, NYSERDA warns of rate increases

Proposals to raise offshore wind and onshore renewable energy contract prices in New York would push residential rates up by 4% a month, according to a state agency.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 31, 2023

Clean energy investment is surging, but success is far from guaranteed

The newfound ambition to build a clean energy economy by mid-century has exposed foundational flaws in approving and connecting energy projects that, if not addressed soon, will make this goal impossible.

By Jason Grumet • Aug. 31, 2023

1 year later, EV and battery projects dominate Inflation Reduction Act-driven investment

The solar and wind industries have also seen significant investment spurred by the IRA, while interest in biofuels and energy efficiency has lagged.

By Kate Magill , Julia Himmel • Aug. 30, 2023