Utility regulators need to be a lot more proactive on climate resilience. Here's how they can start.

As the country grapples with accelerating consequences from extreme weather events, new regulatory frameworks are needed to guide utility investments for added resilience, the authors write.

By Maria Bocanegra and Mishal Thadani • Aug. 17, 2021

Hydrogen could fill multiple gaps in the US energy system, but will energy regulations allow it to?

Experts say green hydrogen will require a regulatory framework unlike any other in the energy industry. And developing that regime, they assert, could benefit the entire grid.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 17, 2021

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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

An ideal marriage? The battle to match US clean energy demand with excess Canadian hydropower

It would seem like the perfect match — a surplus of Canadian hydropower with a grid in the United States that is hungry for more renewable power sources. But moving that power is proving to be complicated.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Aug. 16, 2021

Illinois regulators launch probe of ComEd in wake of bribery scandal

The Illinois Commerce Commission is investigating whether ComEd stuck ratepayers with the bill for patronage hires and other money spent in a bribery case involving one of the state's most powerful politicians.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Aug. 16, 2021

Arizona 2050 clean energy mandate could increase utility bills nearly $60/month, study finds

Take the long-range analysis with a "grain of salt," report producer Ascend Analytics said, as it cannot predict future technologies.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 16, 2021

PSEG unloads fossil fuel plants for $1.9B in push toward decarbonization

PSEG is taking another big step towards cleaning up its grid, with the New Jersey utility announcing plans on Thursday to sell a 6,750 MW portfolio of fossil-fuel plants for $1.92 billion.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Aug. 13, 2021

FERC's Chatterjee laments the politicization of grid resilience in wake of ERCOT, CAISO struggles

The commissioner said he worries his rhetoric that focused on potential plans to save ailing coal plants early in his tenure as chair may have fueled a partisan divide that equates resiliency issues with the use of certain fuels.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 12, 2021

California greenlights first-of-its-kind energy code to encourage electrified buildings

Regulators estimate the 2022 Energy Code will generate $1.5 billion in consumer benefits over the next three decades, as well as reduce 10 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 12, 2021

As Senate passes infrastructure bill, Democrats eye opportunity for more energy spending

A $3.5 trillion budget resolution, approved by the Senate early this morning, contains more tax credits and incentives for renewable energy, including a clean electricity payment program.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 11, 2021

California utilities, clean energy groups urge CPUC to move quickly following Newsom's emergency call

Streamlined interconnection processes, expedited contract approvals, and other measures would help bring projects online quickly over the next few years, stakeholders say. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 11, 2021

NYPA and Argonne launch hyperlocalized study of climate change impact on power plants

The New York Power Authority wants to focus on the impact climate change could have on individual power plants and infrastructure.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Aug. 10, 2021

California's Aliso Canyon review could offer key lessons on transition from natural gas, analysts say

The state's consideration of whether to wean itself from one of its largest natural gas storage facilities could be a model, regardless of its success.

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 10, 2021

FERC requests more evidence of reliability impacts as Spire STL pipeline seeks temporary approval

Environmental groups, including the Environmental Defense Fund, which brought the pipeline company to court in the first place, say the proposal for temporary certification has "serious deficiencies."

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 10, 2021

State, federal efforts too late to save Exelon's Illinois nuclear plants, CEO Crane says

Exelon's leadership has months to decommission the Byron and Dresden plants in Illinois, which CEO Chris Crane described as "the right economic decision" absent legislation.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 6, 2021

DC Circuit orders FERC to analyze climate, environmental justice more thoroughly

The court ruling is the latest one consistent with Chair Richard Glick’s stance that FERC should go farther in analyzing whether the gas projects it assesses are contributing to the climate crisis or cause harm to local communities.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 4, 2021

The US power sector is halfway to net zero emissions, but it gets harder now, analysts say

Renewables led the power sector's recent energy transition, but breakthroughs are needed to take the transportation, building and industrial sectors to net zero emissions by mid-century.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 4, 2021

Bipartisan $1 trillion Senate infrastructure bill focuses on transmission, nuclear, carbon capture

"While there is much to celebrate in this product of our bipartisan efforts, more work still needs to be done," Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., who leads the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, said Monday.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 3, 2021

The offshore wind lease auction process needs a desperate fix

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's process restricts open competition and increases costs regionally, the author maintains.

By Dean Koujak • Aug. 3, 2021

SEC may require climate risk disclosures in expanded 10-Ks: Gensler

SEC Chair Gary Gensler says a company, when filing mandatory climate risk disclosures, may need to measure carbon emissions across its “value chain.”

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 2, 2021

Despite limited participation, advocates see potential for Northeast transportation cap-and-invest plan

Only four of the over a dozen original participants in the Transportation and Climate Initiative signed on to a final program to cut transportation emissions. Backers say there's still a bright future.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 2, 2021

As climate risk disclosures loom, US utilities must not evade accountability

U.S. utilities, through their trade groups, are pressing the SEC for weak climate disclosure policies that contradict advice from leading authorities, the authors write.

By Howard Crystal and Ilana Cohen • Aug. 2, 2021

Xcel plans to roll out 10,000 MW of renewable energy in Minnesota, Colorado by 2030

Xcel Energy is accelerating plans to cut its carbon emissions in Minnesota, the utility's home base, and is also gearing up for a major transition, with longtime CEO Ben Fowke slated to retire on Aug. 18.

By Scott Van Voorhis • July 30, 2021

Murkowski highlights potential boost to US critical minerals ahead of bipartisan infrastructure deal

Senators voted 67-32 to advance the latest version of the bipartisan infrastructure deal, securing the support of 17 Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

By Scott Van Voorhis • July 29, 2021

'This is starting on the right path': Hawaii sees early successes with performance-based regulation

Regulators are also considering developing new performance incentive mechanisms to regulate the retirement of a series of fossil fuel plants over the next few years. 

By Kavya Balaraman • July 29, 2021

Spire STL warns FERC 'lives at risk' if pipeline not able to operate following DC Circuit ruling

The pipeline developer requested federal regulators grant it a temporary certificate of public convenience and necessity while they sort out the fallout from a June ruling that vacated the pipeline's ability to operate.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 29, 2021