The Texas electricity crisis and the energy transition

Although the political and national debate is turning into a proxy debate on energy resources, the most immediate concern is that the current failure threatens public health and safety, the authors write.

By Alex Gilbert and Morgan Bazilian • Feb. 19, 2021

FERC 'finally' ends PJM MOPR proceeding, paving way for grid operator's next capacity auction

"To have anything but a bright line against the participation of subsidized resources is simply an error and a dereliction of the duty to keep our markets properly insulated," said Commissioner James Danly, the sole dissenting vote.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 19, 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

FERC closes resilience docket opened in response to DOE coal, nuclear bailout proposal

The decision comes amid rolling outages that have plagued Texas, and Commissioner Neil Chatterjee, in his sole dissent, said the docket was precisely the right place to examine these and other reliability issues.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 19, 2021

Power experts cite gas constraints as main cause of ERCOT outages, but system planning questions remain

"The fact that this was not wind's fault is not an argument that the wind system as we currently have it would have done better if it were a bigger part of the grid," said a professor of environmental engineering at Georgia Tech.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 18, 2021

Questioning 'artificial' electrification

Should we hurry electrification through governmental actions with incentives and subsidies, or instead, allow the market by itself to determine the speed and magnitude of electrification, the author asks.

By Kenneth W. Costello • Feb. 17, 2021

PUC to take closer look at Hawaiian Electric's interconnection processes, fossil fuel retirement plans

Hawaiian Electric’s lack of transparency around its interconnection processes creates “the potential for a significant setback to renewable energy development" in the state, the PUC's order said. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 17, 2021

FERC, NERC to investigate mass outages across ERCOT, SPP, MISO

Increased demand from extreme cold weather, limited gas supplies and frozen equipment at thermal plants were the primary causes of rolling blackouts triggered largely across Texas, according to officials.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 16, 2021

California moves to address 'extraordinarily frightening' energy debt amid COVID-19

Residential arrearages for Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas surpassed $1 billion in December.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 16, 2021

The system of GHG emissions reporting is broken, experts say

As the media points fingers at cities for underreporting carbon emissions, some argue the blame should instead be placed on a lack of guidance.

By Cailin Crowe • Feb. 12, 2021

Glick sees consensus on FERC considering climate, environmental justice in siting gas infrastructure

The chairman said he was "heartened" by Commissioner Neil Chatterjee's previous comments, indicating that he was open to reassessing how the commission approves pipelines and other gas infrastructure.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 12, 2021

Duke to spend up to $134B on energy transition by 2030, eyes regulatory reforms

CEO Lynn Good also said the company sees offshore wind potential in its North Carolina territory within the next 10 years.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 12, 2021

CPUC moves forward with plan to prevent 2021 blackouts despite criticism from environmental groups

The decision expresses a preference for energy storage resources as opposed to natural gas facilities, as well as short-term contracts, in the case of natural gas, instead of longer-term ones, a commissioner said.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 12, 2021

NARUC, NASEO unveil 5 'blueprints' to guide state energy planning on climate, other challenges

A dozen states pledge actions such as increased stakeholder meetings and technical conferences based on the new modular planning strategies.

By Emma Penrod • Feb. 12, 2021

Grid operators to request extension on FERC Order 2222 compliance, regulator cites 'short' timeline

"FERC, when issuing Order 2222, left many of the most difficult challenges to be dealt with by the RTOs in their stakeholder process," said Ted Thomas, chair of the Arkansas Public Service Commission.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 10, 2021

Arizona showdown: Lawmakers face regulators in fight over zero-emissions mandate

Conservatives say the Arizona Corporation Commission's proposed zero-carbon mandate oversteps its constitutional authority while defenders say the legal debate is an excuse to impede the state's climate fight.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 10, 2021

Cleaning up the power grid requires a federal-state partnership

The federal government can take several actions that would enable and empower states to reach their 100% clean energy goals, the authors write.

By Bentham Paulos and Warren Leon • Feb. 8, 2021

Manchin: Biden administration has started off on wrong foot, risks bipartisan progress on climate

By failing to seek common ground, the Biden administration risks destroying what was growing bipartisan support for action on climate, the West Virginia senator says.

By Emma Penrod • Feb. 5, 2021

Senate confirms former North Carolina regulator Regan as head of EPA

Michael Regan had pledged to take a "clean slate" approach when determining how to take on the Clean Power Plan versus the Affordable Clean Energy Act.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated March 11, 2021

Buttigieg confirmation boosts hope for massive infrastructure investment

Several officials said the former mayor's experience in local government will serve him well, and have called on him to embrace innovations like autonomous and electric vehicles.

By Chris Teale • Feb. 3, 2021

SEC appoints policy advisor to advance new initiatives on ESG

The appointment of an ESG advisor by the acting SEC chair follows commitments by President Biden to redouble efforts to combat climate change.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 3, 2021

Collaboration, not confrontation: Setting the stage for success between FERC and the states

Concrete, achievable wins are within grasp, but only if FERC learns the lessons of the past, writes former Commissioner Tony Clark.

Feb. 2, 2021

Nuclear has another friend in Biden, but changes at the NRC could mean more scrutiny ahead

The president has voiced strong support for nuclear, but as a new NRC chair begins his tenure, the sector could face stricter regulations.

By Matthew Bandyk • Feb. 1, 2021

Groups fear California blackout prevention plan could increase gas use, threaten climate goals

Regulators proposed three kinds of resources utilities could consider for additional capacity: energy storage, generation at risk of retirement, and efficiency upgrades as well as revised PPAs at current plants.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 1, 2021

'No compelling reason not to': Former FERC chairs, commissioners call for federal transmission overhaul

Nine former commissioners and chairs agree that now is the time for federal regulators to tackle interregional grid planning, following the release of a report.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 28, 2021

CCAs accelerate California's clean energy transition, providing a model for other states: report

Between 2011 and 2019, CCAs in California purchased 23.5 million MWh of renewable energy, more than twice what they were required to.

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 28, 2021