Clean energy investment is surging, but success is far from guaranteed

The newfound ambition to build a clean energy economy by mid-century has exposed foundational flaws in approving and connecting energy projects that, if not addressed soon, will make this goal impossible.

By Jason Grumet • Aug. 31, 2023

RWE wins auction for Gulf of Mexico offshore wind lease area as 2 tracts near Texas go unsold

The purchased lease area went for about $55 per acre, compared with average sale prices of at least $1,000 per acre in the last four U.S. offshore wind lease auctions.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 30, 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

1 year later, EV and battery projects dominate Inflation Reduction Act-driven investment

The solar and wind industries have also seen significant investment spurred by the IRA, while interest in biofuels and energy efficiency has lagged.

By Kate Magill , Julia Himmel • Aug. 30, 2023

Falling gas, oil prices unlikely to slow renewables’ growth but could impact hydrogen: S&P

With help from federal incentives for renewables, fossil fuels' share of power generation is expected to drop to 25% in the 2040s despite falling oil and gas prices, according to S&P Global Commodity Insights.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 25, 2023

American Clean Power asks FERC to hold conference on capacity accreditation

Improving the patchwork approach to measuring the reliability value of power plants, energy storage and other resources would bolster the grid, according to the trade group.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 25, 2023

Democratic lawmakers urge TVA to set 2035 net-zero goal in upcoming IRP

The members of Congress pointed to Winter Storm Elliott’s impact on the utility’s service area as a justification for increasing renewables investment. 

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 24, 2023

ArcLight, other private equity power plants in PJM face growing financial challenges: report

Risks facing private equity in PJM include lower capacity prices, competition from renewable energy and capacity market reforms, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 22, 2023

Investors, buyers losing interest in ‘speculative’ renewable projects

Interest in renewable energy assets remains strong, but projects that have yet to secure interconnection approvals are no longer attracting bids, according to marketplace operator LevelTen Energy.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 22, 2023

Four countries were used to dodge solar tariffs, Commerce Department finds

Five companies were found guilty of tariff circumvention. The tariff moratorium is scheduled to end in June 2024.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 21, 2023

DOE lab develops new models to address inverter faults, avoid grid disruptions

Electromagnetic transient domain analysis may be key to stopping inverter-based resources from tripping offline or reducing output in response to grid events, according to research from Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 18, 2023

As demand for solar labor surges, training standards are a key focus: Fluke specialist

On-the-job training is necessary to meet the solar industry’s labor needs, making the quality of that training a priority, said Fluke Solar Application Specialist Will White.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 17, 2023

With first-of-its-kind PTC transfer, AEP sells 1.3 GW of unregulated renewables to Invenergy-led group

American Electric Power’s sale of its unregulated renewable energy assets is part of the utility company’s effort to focus on its regulated operations.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 17, 2023

Democrats call on EPA to implement credit program for electricity from biomass by 2024

A letter from a group of nine Democrats argues EPA has all the information and authority it needs to move ahead with the program. The proposal was excluded from a previous update to the Renewable Fuel Standard.

By Jacob Wallace • Aug. 17, 2023

Google-backed white paper offers framework for deliverability in clean energy procurement standards

Linking clean power purchases to sources in the region where the energy is used can bolster the grid and enable more accurate carbon accounting, according to Google.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 17, 2023

BOEM identifies two wind energy areas with up to 2.6 GW of potential offshore Oregon

The governor and state lawmakers have pushed back against the pace of Oregon offshore wind development, asking for more time to consult ocean stakeholders.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 16, 2023

IRA drives $12.4B into US storage as investments ‘juice’ an already strong market: Freyr exec

Since the Inflation Reduction Act passed, 210 major new clean energy projects have been announced, which have the potential to drive up to $86.3 billion in private investment, says E2. 

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 15, 2023

First Solar selects Louisiana as home of next solar panel factory

The $1.1 billion facility is expected to be the largest capital investment in the state's history.

By Kate Magill • Aug. 15, 2023

Maxeon Solar Technologies to build $1B New Mexico solar panel factory

The 160-acre site will be the Singapore-based company's first U.S. facility, spurred in part by the Inflation Reduction Act.

By Kate Magill • Aug. 11, 2023

EPA power plant carbon plan relies on unavailable tech, violates law: EEI, trade groups

The EPA based proposed emissions standards on hydrogen blending and carbon capture technology that isn’t widely available, violating the Clean Air Act, utility and power sector trade groups said.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 11, 2023

‘Setback’ ordinances could cut US wind potential by 87%, solar by 38%: NREL

Restrictive setback ordinances could cut the nation's renewable energy potential 42%, to 93 TW from 161 TW, according to a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 10, 2023

A community solar boom will test Xcel, other utility plans against developer, customer needs: analysts

New state and federal funding and initiatives for community solar can bring equity and system reliability to the emerging energy transition, analysts say.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 10, 2023

PJM, MISO, others warn of ‘significant power shortages’ from EPA’s power plant carbon rule

The agency’s proposed limits on power plant carbon emissions rely on “green” hydrogen and carbon capture, technologies that may not be widely available, four grid operators told the agency.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 10, 2023

California must act quickly or risk losing billions in federal community solar incentives

The clock is ticking because a federal program to support community solar requires that states receiving a portion of the $7 billion start providing subsidies within 18 months of it being awarded.

By Aaron Halimi • Aug. 8, 2023

Constellation Energy CEO ‘disappointed’ to see peers opposing EPA’s power plant carbon rule

Emerging ways to blend hydrogen with gas and capture carbon dioxide will allow power plants to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule, Joseph Dominguez, Constellation CEO, said Monday.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 8, 2023

US offshore wind faces headwinds, but outlook is strong: DBRS Morningstar VP

Project costs have increased due to a variety of economic factors, but so have clean energy support and incentives.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 7, 2023