Regulation & Policy: Page 77
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Spending more on renewables 'inappropriate,' as technology is already viable: DOE Secretary
Dan Brouillette defended President Donald Trump's proposed cuts to energy efficiency and renewables to a House committee as a pivot toward emerging technologies that have not yet reached market maturity, such as energy storage.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 28, 2020 -
As Puget Sound Energy moves to sell Colstrip share, critics say Northwestern desperate to keep coal plant online
The Montana utility saw a massive profit from the plant in 2008, and now will do anything to keep the facility in its ratebase, say environmentalists.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 26, 2020 -
Explore the Trendline➔
adamkaz via Getty Images
TrendlineThe Energy Transition to Renewables
New policy and business actions are giving a significant boost to renewable energy in the U.S., but opposition is growing and grid interconnection, permitting, labor and other challenges remain.
By Utility Dive staff -
Getty Images
Massachusetts policies help Eversource, National Grid lead on energy efficiency while Southeast lags: ACEEE
The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy updated their utility scorecard ranking 52 utilities, with Southern Company's Alabama Power finishing last.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 26, 2020 -
MTA NYC Transit / Marc A. Hermann
Transportation is 'climate enemy #1' — EVs and behavioral changes are the answers: report
The Environment America Research & Policy Center and the Frontier Group outlined three top strategies for decarbonizing the transportation sector.
By Jason Plautz • Feb. 26, 2020 -
Kendall Davis/Utility Dive
State of the Electric Utility 2020
Renewables and sustainability are top priorities for utilities, but there is room for improvement on cybersecurity, climate resilience and more, Utility Dive's seventh annual report finds.
By Nami Sumida • Feb. 26, 2020 -
Charlotte, North Carolina, becomes largest US city to acquire large-scale solar through a green tariff
The city council approved a 35-megawatt project to generate 24% of its municipal electricity, making it the most populous U.S. city to acquire large-scale solar through a green tariff.
By Chris Teale • Feb. 25, 2020 -
Iulia Gheorghiu / Utility Dive
Supreme Court Justice Gorsuch warns of unintended consequences in Atlantic Coast Pipeline case
Justices Neil Gorsuch echoed developer arguments in his questioning, warning that a lower court decision could 'invite pipelines' in Western national parks.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 25, 2020 -
Elizabeth Regan, Industry Dive/Utility Dive
OpinionFERC takes steps to modernize PURPA, but will it do more harm than good?
Proposed changes to the funding mechanics for Qualified Facilities under the law could negate or reverse the cost reductions the renewable energy sector has benefited from in the past few years.
By Tanya M. Larrabee • Feb. 25, 2020 -
New York governor proposes renewable energy permitting office to speed projects
If adopted, the 30-day budget amendment would "dramatically" speed up the permitting and construction of renewable energy projects, according to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 24, 2020 -
Final EPA coal ash proposal could allow some ponds to go unlined, despite DC Circuit ruling
The agency found its latest proposal could save utilities between $41 million and $138 million per year, siding with industry to give more "flexibility" on what kind of liners adequately protect human health and groundwater.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 24, 2020 -
Opinion
Cap coal ash in place? Duke and others have learned better
Forward-thinking utilities recognize that their communities and increasingly-stringent standards require more than leaving coal ash in polluting pits and have moved their coal ash to dry lined storage, the author writes.
By Frank Holleman • Feb. 24, 2020 -
Elizabeth Regan, Industry Dive/Utility Dive
FERC deals blow to New York renewable, storage projects, adding hurdles to NYISO capacity market
The commission's Feb. 20 orders join actions in PJM and ISO New England that "go after clean energy policies," Commissioner Richard Glick said after announcing his dissents.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 21, 2020 -
Largest New England coal plant clears ISO-NE capacity auction, will stay online until 2024
Critics say the plant, which runs at just 10% of its capacity from a decade ago, is a sign the auction favors incumbent generators over new, clean resources.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 20, 2020 -
Getty Images
Deep DiveSlowed pay-off from billions in AMI investment puts the technology's future in doubt
Regulators have approved billions for utilities to roll out advanced metering infrastructure, but they expected new customer and system benefits, not just lower utility operation costs.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 20, 2020 -
Opinion
Breaking rooftop solar's distortions: SMUD readies community program for California building mandate
"Contrary to assertions by the rooftop solar industry that we do not support solar, all Neighborhood SolarShares does is offer a choice to home builders," writes Sacramento Municipal Utility District CEO Arlen Orchard.
By Arlen Orchard • Feb. 19, 2020 -
Jeff Bezos commits $10B to climate. How should he spend it?
The funding announcement "dwarfs other philanthropy in this realm," and could go toward anything from an amplified Beyond Carbon campaign to a mass electric vehicle rollout, stakeholders said.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 19, 2020 -
California PUC proposes pilot programs to decarbonize buildings
The proposed decision outlines programs to incentivize near-zero emission technologies in residential buildings and build the market for low-emission space and water heaters.
By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 18, 2020 -
RTOs need better market signals for using gas, analysts say, as ISO-NE preps related rule
NARUC stakeholders discussed how grid operators and regulators facilitate communication between natural gas pipeline services and electric system needs.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 18, 2020 -
Deep Dive
Utilities don't see stranded assets as a top risk. Should they?
Despite growing concerns that "bullish" utility investments in natural gas may lead to stranded assets amid rapid decarbonization, just 18% of utility employees surveyed by Utility Dive view those risks as a top concern.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 14, 2020 -
Virginia approves 100% clean energy legislation, pushing state toward 2.4 GW storage, RGGI
Following a Senate push to get the Virginia Clean Economy Act to conference committee, the energy package is headed to the Governor's desk.
By Matthew Bandyk • Updated March 6, 2020 -
Coal ash, Atlantic Coast Pipeline remain a headache for Duke as it expands 5 year spending by $6B
Not allowing the utility to fully recover costs around its $8-9 billion coal ash cleanup could prove "detrimental" to the utility's balance sheet, CEO Lynn Good said on the company's Q4 earnings call.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 13, 2020 -
Faced with potential 2020 Sanders, Warren fracking bans, Vistra CEO expects industry impact to be minimal
"Our coal plants are no more economic today than when the president took over," Vistra Energy's Curtis Morgan said, adding the Trump administration has ultimately just led to stronger state clean energy policies.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 12, 2020 -
Will APS face retail competition in Arizona? Regulators issue diverging proposals
Under one proposal, monopoly utilities would not be allowed to allowed to provide direct electric service to customers, but under the other proposal, they could.
By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 12, 2020 -
Sustainability tops utility concerns, as SEU survey sees discrepancies on cybersecurity, stranded assets
Some 50% of utility respondents to Utility Dive's State of the Electric Utility Survey expect their organization to significantly increase the amount of grid-scale solar by 2030, a stronger forecast than for any other resource.
By Larry Pearl • Feb. 12, 2020 -
California proposes 10-year transportation electrification planning process for SCE, other IOUs
The plans would also outline how utilities are handling incremental load from electrified transportation, and "clear, long-term market signals that encourage the development of third-party business opportunities."
By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 11, 2020
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