Diversify, domesticate and disrupt: Building a robust US solar supply chain

Until the Inflation Reduction Act passed last year, the United States had no solar panel manufacturing policy. Now it has a flawed one.

By David M. Hart • Nov. 2, 2023

Apple, Nike and others back new clean energy project to decarbonize supply chains

The Clean Energy Procurement Academy, whose founding members also include Amazon, Meta and PepsiCo, aims to boost clean energy procurement and curb emissions.

By Zoya Mirza • Nov. 2, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

The 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

Ørsted cancels two offshore wind projects along New Jersey coast

The projects had become financially unworkable due to supply chain problems and increased interest rates, the company said.

By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 1, 2023

BOEM approves 2.6-GW Dominion Energy offshore wind farm, largest yet in US

While other offshore wind developers have canceled PPAs and projects citing rising costs, Dominion Energy says the Virginia project is on schedule and on budget.

By Emma Penrod • Nov. 1, 2023

Fitch downgrades Eversource outlook to ‘negative’ on uncertainty around offshore wind sales

“Failure to complete the sale in a timely manner would pressure Eversource's already weak financial profile, resulting in a ratings downgrade,” Fitch Ratings said Monday.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 31, 2023

Is the least populated state in the nation leading the next US energy transition?

Wyoming is on track to become a major exporter of wind energy to neighboring states and major urban markets across the West.

By John Karakoulakis • Oct. 31, 2023

Connecticut 2 GW offshore wind RFP acknowledges financial challenges for developers

The state included a provision to allow bidders to submit pricing at a rate indexed to macroeconomic factors like inflation, allowing for adjustments of 15%.

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 30, 2023

After tepid first auction, BOEM announces 4 new Gulf of Mexico offshore wind areas

Three lease areas in the region went unsold in an August auction, but the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is moving ahead with the sale process for four new areas.

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 30, 2023

Los Angeles region to accelerate clean energy efforts in run-up to 2028 Olympics

The road map sets new and more granular decarbonization targets, said a co-chair of the public-private partnership behind the plan.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 30, 2023

131 companies press for 100% decarbonized power systems in all countries by 2040

The coalition, which includes companies like EDP and Ørsted and represents nearly $1 trillion in annual revenue, is asking policymakers to end reliance on fossil fuels through regulations and clean-energy investments.

By Zoya Mirza • Oct. 27, 2023

Key lessons for an economical and reliable path to a 100% clean electricity system

While the near- and mid-term path to reach an 80%-90% clean system is relatively clear, the technological mix of the final leg is still highly uncertain.

By Derek Stenclik and Priya Sreedharan • Oct. 27, 2023

Jury orders Xcel to pay Colorado co-op $26.5M for extended outages at Comanche 3 coal plant

“This verdict will at least partly compensate CORE for damages caused by the systemic failures of Xcel,” said CORE Electric Cooperative CEO Jeff Baudier.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 27, 2023

NextEra expects up to $1.8B by 2026 in renewable energy tax credit sales, CFO says

The tax credit market is growing more rapidly than expected, an energy marketplace director said, but questions remain about whether it's bringing new money to the sector.

By Emma Penrod • Oct. 27, 2023

Utility-scale solar installation costs rose 8% in Q1, residential costs fell 16%: NREL

While module costs have dropped, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory said utility-scale solar is facing steeper prices for inverters and labor.

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 26, 2023

DOE issues draft plan for speeding up, improving grid interconnections

The draft road map goes beyond the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s recent interconnection reform rule, in part by calling for fast-track interconnection options.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 26, 2023

Microsoft leans on renewable energy PPAs, energy efficiency in environmental efforts

“Ensuring our buildings are energy efficient is a key first step in reducing emissions,” the tech giant said in its 2022 Environmental Report.

By Joe Burns • Oct. 25, 2023

New York Gov. Hochul announces 4 GW of offshore wind contracts as industry criticizes recent actions

Offshore wind advocates have questioned the governor's veto of an offshore wind transmission bill and the state's rejection of a financial relief petition by three project developers.

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 25, 2023

Bloom Energy, Google, others back microgrid tax credit extension

The push for the microgrid controller investment tax credit extension comes amid growth but also emerging challenges for the sector.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 25, 2023

Princeton’s Zero Lab has it wrong on corporate renewable energy procurement and emissions

The authors disagree with Zero Lab’s core conclusion that any procurement strategy other than hourly matching will have “zero or near-zero long-run impact on system-level CO2 emissions.”

By Jake Oster, Rob Threlkeld, Chad Reed and Hannah Hunt • Oct. 25, 2023

New Mexico approves early closure agreement for Xcel’s coal-fired Tolk power plant

Under the agreement approved by New Mexico regulators, Xcel will only run Tolk “when it is economically beneficial for customers,” the Sierra Club said.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 25, 2023

Xcel seeks 1.2 GW of new Minnesota wind resources to replace retiring coal plant

The new wind projects would utilize Xcel’s proposed 345-kV transmission line to deliver energy to the retiring Sherco coal plant in Becker, Minnesota.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 24, 2023

AI is enhancing electric grids, but surging energy use and security risks are key concerns

The power demands of artificial intelligence could grow almost fivefold by 2028, said Sreedhar Sistu, vice president of artificial intelligence offers for Schneider Electric.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 23, 2023

Failing to expand the grid may be biggest threat to US energy transition: National Academies

A panel of experts urged FERC to “expeditiously” issue its pending transmission planning and cost allocation reforms and to make sure wholesale power markets can support a shift to 100% clean energy.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 19, 2023

DOE announces ‘largest-ever investment in America’s grid,’ giving $3.5B across 44 states

The first round of funding under the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships program will boost U.S. renewable capacity by more than 10% within this decade, said DOE officials.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 19, 2023

Renewable PPA dealmaking slows as high solar prices appear set to stay: LevelTen

Prices have begun to level out, but some corporate buyers are considering other options, according to officials at power marketplace LevelTen.

By Emma Penrod • Oct. 18, 2023