Drought could cause Western carbon emissions to surge on reduced hydro: report

Increased risk of drought in the Western U.S. could complicate planning efforts for utilities looking to eliminate carbon emissions, according to analysis from Stanford University.

By Emma Penrod • July 18, 2023

Transmission development pace ‘severely’ limits renewable energy, carbon reduction potential: report

Failing to speed up transmission expansion cuts possible greenhouse gas emissions reductions in half by 2035, the Princeton University-led REPEAT Project found.

By Ethan Howland • July 17, 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

How utilities can navigate the energy transition with near-term and long-term actions

Optimizing core operations while investing in future-focused solutions will enable the path forward.

By Ned Calder, Simar Grewal, and Anna Veatch • July 17, 2023

Global renewables adoption ‘in line with ambitious net-zero scenarios’: RMI report

The think tank projects global success in meeting a 2050 net-zero goal, but not in limiting warming to 1.5 degrees C.

By Diana DiGangi • July 14, 2023

DOE offers $5.1M in prizes for wind turbine recycling innovations

Most turbine materials already have commercial recycling options, but the remaining components pose a barrier to a circular wind energy economy.

By Diana DiGangi • July 14, 2023

The meaning of an ‘optimal’ clean energy investment is changing as prices rise, analysts report

Inflation Reduction Act incentives and supply-demand imbalances have developers and off-takers recalculating the value of clean energy.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 13, 2023

DTE Electric agrees to speed Michigan coal plant retirements, renewable and energy storage buildout

DTE will add 3.8 GW of renewables and 780 MW of energy storage by 2030 under a settlement agreement released Wednesday.

By Ethan Howland • July 13, 2023

Energy Department announces $45M to bolster US solar manufacturing

The funding seeks to help establish a domestic solar supply chain to reduce reliance on imports.

By Megan Ruggles • July 12, 2023

A third of utilities have begun to pilot generative AI for customer service, other uses: report

Utilities see clear potential benefits of text-generating AI in sales and marketing departments, but early adopters say that’s just the beginning.

By Emma Penrod • July 12, 2023

How hourly tracking can prevent a ‘clean’ hydrogen boondoggle

Hourly matching is feasible, in use today and absolutely necessary for deploying clean hydrogen and building a clean grid.

By Ben Gerber and Killian Daly • July 10, 2023

State clean energy goals are ‘key driver’ for generation growth, but impact differs between regions: report

In Texas and the Midwest, renewables growth has “far outpaced RPS needs, driven by attractive wind energy economics,” says a Berkeley Lab report.

By Diana DiGangi • July 10, 2023

DC Circuit backs FERC decision in interconnection dispute between Hecate Energy, NYISO

The case centers on how detailed a grid operator’s tariff must be. A lack of clarity will delay renewable energy projects, according to Hecate Energy.

By Ethan Howland • July 10, 2023

New solar venture to invest up to $1.5B on domestic operation, beginning with Colorado factory

VSK Energy aims to develop a vertically integrated solar manufacturing operation in the U.S. to help reduce reliance on other countries for key components. 

By Megan Ruggles • July 7, 2023

Minnesota PUC approves Xcel’s plan to install a 10-MW/1,000-MWh Form Energy battery system

The utility company expects the long-duration energy storage project will be operating by the end of 2025. It will be paired with 710 MW of solar at the site of a coal-fired power plant that is being retired.

By Ethan Howland • July 7, 2023

Tapping into DOE’s $250B of loan authority for projects that reinvest in US clean energy infrastructure

Potential projects include replacing retired infrastructure with nuclear energy or renewables with or without storage, retrofitting power plants, reconductoring transmission lines and more.

By Jigar Shah • July 6, 2023

Ørsted gets federal approval for construction and operation of 1.1-GW New Jersey offshore wind farm

The project is on track to begin offshore construction in 2024 and commercial operations in 2025, the developer said.

By Diana DiGangi • July 6, 2023

DOE proposes $1B program to support demand for clean hydrogen from hydrogen hubs

The DOE believes government support for users of clean hydrogen may be needed to accelerate industrial adoption of the fuel. The problem, according to a leading hydrogen attorney, is rooted in access to financing.

By Emma Penrod • July 5, 2023

NV Energy, NextEra subsidiary among high bidders for Interior’s record-breaking renewables auction

The auction of four parcels of public land for utility-scale solar development in Nevada attracted a total of $105.15 million in high bids, the Department of the Interior said.

By Diana DiGangi • July 5, 2023

Duke Energy in $364M deal to sell unregulated distributed generation business to ArcLight affiliate

Duke plans to use the proceeds from the sale to strengthen its balance sheet as it eyes $36 billion in spending on regulated assets over the next five years.

By Ethan Howland • July 5, 2023

AEP’s SWEPCO gets approval to buy 1 GW of wind, solar from Invenergy for $2.2B

Including tax credits, the projects are expected to save $1.38/MWh compared with business as usual.

By Ethan Howland • June 30, 2023

Dominion Energy, Virginia solar developers clash over small-scale project rules

A coalition of solar groups and developers argues that Dominion Energy’s interconnection rules have led to project delays and cancellations, while the utility says the rules are necessary to protect the grid.

By Diana DiGangi • June 29, 2023

EPA launches $7B program to fund solar development in low-income and disadvantaged communities

“This historic boost in solar investments will advance millions of residential solar projects nationwide, protect people and the planet, deliver environmental justice, save families money, and create good-paying jobs,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said.

By Ethan Howland • June 29, 2023

DOE highlights Georgia’s clean energy economy ahead of Granholm visit

The state is home to more than half of the $5 billion in U.S. solar manufacturing investments that the Department of Energy has tracked since the beginning of the Biden administration.

By Diana DiGangi • June 27, 2023

Agrivoltaics hit ‘watershed moment’ as farmland transitions increase, says farmer-turned-developer

“Solar works when agricultural landowners are at a point of transition,” said BlueWave Solar Director of Sustainable Solar Development Jesse Robertson-Dubois.

By Diana DiGangi • June 26, 2023

A 360-degree approach to industrial sustainability: Parmacotto and Enel X Global Retail

Climate change is not some future state — it’s here today, and the scientific predictions are increasingly dire.

June 26, 2023