US grid needs overhaul to keep up with renewable revolution, says GE exec, Sen. Heinrich

The infrastructure package Congress is debating must include tens of billions of dollars to modernize the aging U.S. electric grid, a U.S. senator and industry experts said last week.

By Scott Van Voorhis • June 22, 2021

North Carolina legislature retools Duke-backed bill after Dems, governor protest weakened oversight

The legislation is a high priority for Duke Energy, one of few stakeholders allowed in closed-door negotiations on the initial text.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 22, 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

Ending the snipe hunt for buyer-side power in PJM and other capacity markets

Going forward, FERC should be judicious when applying mitigation measures to state policies and should consider tools beyond the MOPR, the authors write.

By Burçin Ünel and Sarah Ladin • June 21, 2021

Critical infrastructure sites face greater cyberthreat amid remote connectivity: Moody's

The company warns that oil, electric and other critical infrastructure providers are increasingly attractive targets for ransomware.

By David Jones • June 21, 2021

Bipartisan $973B infrastructure proposal alarms EV advocates with annual surcharge on vehicles

A group of 10 Democratic and 11 Republican senators supports an annual surcharge on electric vehicles, but industry advocates warn it could dampen enthusiasm for the transition away from gasoline-powered cars and trucks.

By Robert Walton • June 21, 2021

South Carolina regulators reject Duke's long-term power plant construction plans, call for changes

South Carolina utility regulators are calling upon Duke to rethink its long-term power plant construction plans and are urging the company to look more closely at solar, storage and other resources.

By Scott Van Voorhis • June 21, 2021

California groups clash over gas in 11.5 GW procurement proposal as CAISO calls for conservation

“We can’t overemphasize enough the need for procurement to be authorized and get underway,” a CAISO representative said.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 18, 2021

AEP seeks up to $317M for 3 West Virginia coal plant upgrades

American Electric Power is facing opposition from environmentalists on upgrades to a trio of coal-fired plants as the utility seeks to extend their lives until 2040.

By Scott Van Voorhis • June 18, 2021

Tri-State asks FERC to approve 'transparent and simpler' contract termination approach for members

The commission determined that Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association's tariff is unjust and unreasonable, based on the hurdles members face in considering whether to exit the G&T provider.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Sept. 3, 2021

FERC pauses ruling that would prevent states from blocking demand response under Order 2222

FERC also on Thursday established a joint federal-state task force on transmission development that will address planning and cost allocation issues.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 18, 2021

As US aims to boost clean energy supply chain, critical minerals gap largely human-caused, analysts say

There's no shortage of rare earth minerals needed to transition to a clean energy economy, experts say. The problem is getting them out of the ground — and out of China.

By Emma Penrod • June 17, 2021

Duke-backed North Carolina bill would reduce carbon emissions 61% by 2030, retire some coal early

The legislation calls for Duke to own 55% of renewable energy generation and independent power producers to own 45%. It also establishes a multiyear rate plan — something the utility has long pushed for.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 17, 2021

As 9 Ex-FERC commissioners tout organized markets, we need facts, not propaganda on the benefits

25 years into this RTO experiment we still have no ability to say dispositively that it has either worked or failed with respect to costs. Someone – maybe a federal regulator – should do an independent study, the author writes.

By Michael McKenna • June 16, 2021

FERC points PJM toward a 21st-century reliability approach

Reliability mechanisms that seemed appropriate two decades ago, including the original capacity market designs, no longer fit the bill, the authors write.

By David Littell and Michael Hogan • June 15, 2021

NARUC task force: COVID-19 highlights states' need for emergency planning tools

With COVID, cyber attacks and natural disasters bringing emergency preparedness to the fore, a panel of regulators says states must increase their focus on resilience.

By Emma Penrod • June 15, 2021

California utilities object to fossil fuel requirements in proposed 11.5 GW procurement package

The proposed procurement is intended to maintain grid reliability after the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant is retired by 2025.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 15, 2021

Manchin defends coal-fired plants, expresses concern over 'aggressive' Biden climate goals

Sen. Joe Manchin, whose home state of West Virginia is in the heart of mining country, came out swinging in defense of coal-fired power plants in the U.S. at the annual EEI conference, arguing they are being singled out unfairly.

By Scott Van Voorhis • June 14, 2021

Glick: FERC to outline plan to tackle transmission 'certainly' by the end of summer

Planning and cost allocation are two of the larger-scale keys to building out the amount of transmission necessary to bring the power grid to 100% carbon-free power under President Biden's 2035 timeline, according to Glick.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 11, 2021

National Grid encourages FERC to provide better incentives for grid-enhancing technology

Xcel Energy, on a panel, agreed with many of the hurdles a National Grid representative laid out, including operational, technological and financial barriers.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 10, 2021

North Carolina unveils ambitious offshore wind power plan, targeting 8 GW by 2040

Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order on Wednesday making North Carolina the latest state with an offshore wind target, as the budding sector draws increasing interest from investors and the federal government.

By Scott Van Voorhis • June 10, 2021

Colonial CEO defends oversight response, urges transparency on ransomware

Private industry needs more immediate and detailed threat intelligence to prevent these attacks from happening in the future, CEO Joseph Blount told the House Committee on Homeland Security.

By David Jones • June 10, 2021

California PUC considers sending utilities back to drawing board on hydrogen blending proposal

“This isn’t the commission slamming the door on hydrogen research — they’re just saying that the utilities don’t have a blank check," said Sara Gersen, clean energy senior attorney with Earthjustice.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 9, 2021

FERC has more questions for Duke, Dominion on Southeast energy market proposal

According to a SEEM spokesperson, the questions "are readily answerable" and the utilities will respond "thoroughly, efficiently, and promptly" in the 10 days the commission provided.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Aug. 9, 2021

Colorado legislators direct all transmission utilities to join an organized wholesale market by 2030

The passage of Senate Bill 72 is not only an indicator of the growing interest of Western states in regional power markets, but it could also put pressure on other states to create similar policies, one analyst said.

By Emma Penrod • June 8, 2021

Fate of Illinois nuclear plants in balance after 3 fail to clear PJM auction and subsidy plan stalls

Three Illinois nuclear plants failed to land power contracts at the PJM capacity auction, generating additional uncertainty about their future.

By Scott Van Voorhis • June 7, 2021