Reconciled to reconciliation: Can the spending bill still jumpstart climate action?

Going forward, the U.S. government needs to craft new climate policies that are specifically geared to fostering private sector investment, the author writes. 

By Bob Hinkle • Oct. 29, 2021

States, public need bigger role in transmission development, FERC's Glick says

The lead regulator outlined his hopes for transmission reform needed to meet clean energy and grid reliability goals ahead of a key FERC-state task force meeting.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 28, 2021

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

APS vows legal action after Arizona regulators deny cost recovery for $215.5M coal plant upgrades

Regulators approved the utility’s first rate decrease since 1996, while voting against full cost recovery for APS' investment in upgrades to a coal plant being closed earlier than initially planned.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Updated Nov. 3, 2021

Hydropower's absence in the reconciliation bill is a major gap in U.S. clean energy strategy

Hydro helps integrate wind and solar, so why isn't it supported in the reconciliation bill?

By Alicia Barton • Oct. 28, 2021

New York rejects proposed NRG, Danskammer Energy gas plants, citing 2019 climate law

Environmental groups called the decision "precedent-setting" while industry stakeholders said rejecting nearly 1 GW of new resources was shortsighted and bad public policy.

By Larry Pearl • Oct. 28, 2021

PJM, market monitor urge FERC to reject SOO Green proposal, saying it will upend the capacity market

Letting SOO Green's transmission line skirt PJM's rules would hurt reliability and lower capacity prices, the grid operator and Monitoring Analytics said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 27, 2021

As politicians battle, we need scientific credibility and objectivity to reach net zero emissions

If countries are to achieve economywide net-zero emissions by 2050, it will mean significantly accelerating clean energy efforts, the CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute writes.

By Arshad Mansoor • Oct. 27, 2021

California groups divided on inclusion of gas in 11.5 GW 'clean' procurement order

"It's another day and another month, and the Commission is still asking the same tired questions about procuring more gas..." clean energy groups said in a filing with the California Public Utilities Commission. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Oct. 25, 2021

How New England could demonstrate what a 'clean energy RTO' looks like

In showing how RTO markets can support the achievement of state policy goals and be the catalyst for a clean energy region, ISO New England has three big things going for it, the author writes.

By Caitlin Marquis • Oct. 25, 2021

FERC rejects utilities' request to open TVA to competition

But FERC Chairman Glick urged Congress to eliminate the Tennessee Valley Authority's protective fence transmission borders so the utility doesn't have carte blanche to "gold plate" its system.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 22, 2021

Now is the time for regulatory sandboxes in energy and utilities

Recent test beds in Canada, the Netherlands, Singapore and United Kingdom provide inspiration for models to stimulate innovation in the United States.

By Brien J. Sheahan • Oct. 22, 2021

NextEra doubles down on green hydrogen, other renewables

The company said Wednesday it has added more than 5,700 megawatts over the first nine months of 2021 to its backlog of renewable energy and storage projects.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Oct. 21, 2021

Meeting state offshore wind, renewable goals requires up to $3.2B in transmission, PJM says

A report on future transmission needs marks a change in how the largest U.S. grid operator considers state renewable energy goals, but more work needs to be done, observers say.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 21, 2021

To secure the energy supply chain, feds want to reimagine the power sector as defense

Department of Energy officials say vulnerable software and data supply chains expose the U.S. power grid to attack.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 21, 2021

Coal-fired electricity rebounds in 2021, but resurgence could be short-lived

As the price of natural gas soars, a federal report finds coal-fired power plants are expected to produce significantly more electricity this year than in 2020.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Oct. 20, 2021

Democrats gain FERC majority with Phillips Senate confirmation

The confirmation comes as the agency is considering a range of policy issues that could affect the clean energy transition.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Nov. 17, 2021

EEI, utilities want first crack at transmission development as FERC mulls new rules, incentives

With billions in spending at stake, the Edison Electric Institute says competition hampers power line development. Consumer groups contend it lowers costs.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 18, 2021

Time for utility companies to step up by supporting the Clean Electricity Performance Program

Achieving more clean energy is feasible, affordable and would benefit our economy and public health without compromising power system reliability, writes Ceres' senior program director of climate and energy.

By Dan Bakal • Oct. 18, 2021

Empire Wind pushes opening of New York's first offshore wind farm to 2026

The developer told federal regulators it needs until December 2026 to build New York's first major offshore wind farm.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Updated Oct. 16, 2021

Amazon, DOE, PJM urge FERC to support proactive transmission planning for an evolving grid

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is preparing for its first overhaul of transmission planning and cost allocation rules in a decade. 

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 15, 2021

Entergy failures threaten New Orleans' future

Entergy's way of doing business is unaffordable to ratepayers and it is unable to provide the kind of reliability and resilience that are more necessary in the face of climate disaster, the author writes.

By Jesse George • Oct. 15, 2021

Southern California Edison eyes building electrification filing later this year

The proposal would be similar to the utility's transportation electrification program, which is the largest in the United States.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2021

Clean energy, environmental groups sue FERC over approval of Southeast energy market

A broad coalition of 13 groups asked a federal appeals court to overturn the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s tacit approval of the bilateral market for utilities.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Feb. 9, 2022

PJM market monitor calls for penalties on generators to spur grid flexibility

Market incentives would be a better way to make the grid more nimble, power plant operators argued to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 13, 2021

California ISO, utilities weigh in on more aggressive emissions goal, reliability needs

A portfolio of resources that would enable the electric sector to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 38 million metric tons by 2030 will leave only 500 MW of effective capacity above what is needed to meet reliability targets in 2026, according to the California Independent System Operator. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Oct. 12, 2021