‘Backed into a corner,’ Texas regulators consider cost caps for Entergy gas plants

Entergy Texas needs new generating capacity — and soon — but regulators say the utility failed to consider potentially cheaper options to a portfolio of gas plants.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 22, 2025

PJM surplus interconnection can support 153 GW of solar, wind, storage: UC Berkeley researchers

Surplus interconnection capacity can enable rapid resource additions. “There's a demand for anything that can come online in any sort of a reasonable time frame,” EDP Renewables’ David Mindham said.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 21, 2025

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

DOE extends order to delay retiring Consumers’ Michigan coal plant

Emergency energy conditions may last for years in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator footprint, the Department of Energy said.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 21, 2025

Utilities: Don’t lose out on advanced metering infrastructure with a short-term vision

There is a revolution of grid-connected devices in the making, writes Laura Sherman, president of the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council.

By Laura Sherman • Aug. 20, 2025

Arizona regulators begin process to repeal state’s renewable standard

The rule requires Arizona utilities to obtain 15% of retail electric sales from renewable energy resources by 2025. That goal has been met, but advocates say the rule is still needed.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 20, 2025

To reduce electricity bills, repeal the complexity tax on energy savings

Energy waste can be cut and customer outcomes improved by consolidating and expanding efficiency and housing repair programs, writes L. Michelle Moore, the CEO of Groundswell.

By Michelle Moore • Aug. 19, 2025

NV Energy seeks FERC approval to give wind, solar developers free exit from interconnection queue

Projects with solar or wind components make up nearly 80% of NV Energy's interconnection queue.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 19, 2025

FERC approves cost allocation paths for power plants DOE ordered to run past shutdown dates

The decisions affect Consumers Energy and Constellation Energy, as well as ratepayers in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator and PJM Interconnection footprints.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 18, 2025

Gone with the Wind: Ordinances in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi discourage renewable investments

When counties adopt smart, balanced rules, they protect property rights, attract investment and avoid costly legal fights. Blanket bans just stall economic growth and limit local control.

By Simon Mahan and Jamie Moody • Aug. 18, 2025

Duke Energy proposes merging its Carolina utilities, driving $3.2B in estimated savings

Combining Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress would lead to more efficient system planning and operations, according to the company.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 15, 2025

White House names Democrat Rosner to lead FERC

Agency observers expect the White House will replace Rosner once two pending Republican FERC nominees — Laura Swett and David LaCerte — are seated at the commission.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 14, 2025

$3.1B annual cost estimated for fossil fuel plants DOE won’t allow to retire

One coal plant owner told the SEC it spent $29 million in the first 38 days of an Energy Department order to keep it online.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Aug. 18, 2025

ISO-NE should make its governance transparent, accessible and accountable

With a leadership change coming in January, ISO New England has a chance to launch a new era of governance that engages with the communities it serves.

By Mireille Bejjani and Steven Botkin • Aug. 13, 2025

DOE taps 10 advanced reactor companies for expedited nuclear pilot

Oklo and its subsidiary, Atomic Alchemy, are developing three out of the 11 projects DOE selected.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 13, 2025

EPA plans to revise coal-fired power plant wastewater rules

The plan is part of a broad Trump administration effort to ease environmental rules affecting the power sector. Previously, the EPA estimated the rule would cut pollution from coal-fired power plants by more than 660 million pounds a year.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 13, 2025

Renewable power purchase agreement prices rising in wake of One Big Beautiful Bill Act

The average price of new wind and solar power purchase agreements is up 4% since the OBBBA’s passage. Almost a third of developers surveyed said they plan to suspend or cancel projects as a result of the reconciliation bill.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 13, 2025

Multidirectional flows of power and information are the grid’s future

In the frenzy to meet rising energy demand, utilities and others often overlook the value of power system innovations, industry participants say.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 12, 2025

US to maintain lower tariff rates on China imports for 90 more days

China also extended its suspension of additional retaliatory duties against U.S. goods, maintaining current rates until November.

By Max Garland • Aug. 12, 2025

PJM launches fast-track push to set rules for adding data centers

Amid surging data center development, PJM stakeholders will explore options for adding large loads to the grid without threatening reliability. PJM aims to file a proposal at FERC by the end of the year.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 12, 2025

Managing new political risk for renewable energy projects

Clean energy developers face multiple risks from the Trump administration — but there are pathways for easing them.

By Jason Kosek and Peja Breuler • Aug. 11, 2025

FERC’s Christie steps down, leaving agency with three members

The White House plans to name Commissioner David Rosner, a Democrat, as interim chairman, according to reports. One former FERC official speculated that the administration wants a majority that will support colocating data centers at power plants.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 11, 2025

Lawmaker, AARP call for nationwide utility commission reforms to stop rising electric bills

A coalition of consumer and environmental advocates said public service commissions have become too closely aligned with utility interests. U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., reintroduced legislation this week to prohibit utility companies from using ratepayer dollars to fund political lobbying and advertising.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 8, 2025

In wind and solar dispute, Sens. Grassley, Curtis delay Trump nominees

“The idea is, when you do this, it will get a certain amount of attention from the administration," said Tim Hagle, a political scientist at the University of Iowa.

By Diana DiGangi , Meris Lutz • Aug. 7, 2025

In blow to some battery operators, Texas maintains non-spin reserve threshold

Experts said the decision could reduce non-spin reserves on the state’s electric grid and push some players out of state.

By Brian Martucci • Aug. 7, 2025

Mapping Trump’s tariffs by trade balance and geography

Duties on over 90 countries’ imports are slated to rise above a previous 10% baseline tariff implemented by the U.S. Here are three graphics illustrating the changes.

By Edwin Lopez • Aug. 6, 2025