A lot of dam potential: Renewables growth could drive massive hydro buildout

With pumped storage, hydropower can grow 50% by 2050 — if developers can get over the hurdles.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 9, 2016

The Duck is learning to fly in California and Hawaii

The dreaded 'duck curve' is evolving more slowly than anticipated thanks to smart rate design and efficiency, RAP's Jim Lazar writes.

By Jim Lazar • Aug. 8, 2016

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 greenlights Apple's petition to sell electric power

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has granted Apple market based rate authority, saying the tech company didn't raise the risk of unfairly hiking rates. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 8, 2016

Pacific Power: Oregon 50% RPS will barely raise customer rates thru 2028

Five months ago, the utility told regulators the 50% renewable energy mandate would raise retail rates 0.8% — annually — through 2030. Now it says the number is a cumulative 0.1% over nearly the same timeframe. 

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 8, 2016

Upper Peninsula utility first in Michigan to hit solar net metering cap

Upper Peninsula Power Co. has hit its cap for net metered solar systems, which Michigan limits at 1% of a utility's peak demand. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 8, 2016

Xcel Energy proposes $562M grid management system, smart meter upgrade

The new smart meters and support software would improve reliability, provide better renewables integration and help customers control their usage, Xcel said. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 5, 2016

Nevada Supreme Court rejects net metering ballot proposal

The state's high court upheld an earlier ruling that found the proposal's wording was misleading.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Aug. 5, 2016

'Go time': 1st US offshore wind facility enters final construction phase

Installation of the Block Island Wind Farm’s turbine towers is ramping up and should be complete by by the end of the year.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 5, 2016

Texas regulators to explore alternative utility ratemaking mechanisms

The Public Utility Commission of Texas will address a report on revisions to traditional cost-of-service ratemaking in their Aug. 10 meeting. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 4, 2016

Alliant pursues wind energy plans in Wisconsin after major Iowa wind investment

Last week the company announced a $1 billion expansion of an Iowa wind far. In its earnings this week, Alliant executives they are planning a similar expansion in Wisconsin.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 4, 2016

Schneider Electric starts network to help corporate renewables goals

Schneider Electric's new service aims to help corporations meet their sustainability goals, following the formation of the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 3, 2016

CAISO: EIM showed $23.6M in benefits for Q2

The California ISO said its energy imbalance market displaced nearly 68,000 metric tons of CO2 in the second quarter.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 3, 2016

A 'transformational' mandate: Greens hail Massachusetts offshore wind, renewables bill

The U.S. trails in offshore wind, but backers say this measure could "start a new industry," though questions about the role of natural gas remain. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 3, 2016

AEP subsidiary buys set of 5 Hawaii storage projects from EnSync

The deal, which includes one solar-plus-storage project, validates the power purchase development model in Hawaii, EnSync said.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 3, 2016

EIA: North American renewables, nuclear to reach 45% by 2025

The projection assumes the EPA's Clean Power Plan is upheld by the courts and goes into effect.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 3, 2016

Finding the flow: Harvard researchers tweak vitamin B2 to boost flow batteries

Building on their previous work, researchers at Harvard University are using organic chemicals to bring down energy storage costs.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 2, 2016

PG&E: California policies will boost its capital expenditures

The utility expects to spend $5.6 billion this year, including $2 billion on distribution, $1.2 billion on transmission and $700 million on generation,

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 2, 2016

NextEra yieldco to bolster solar holdings in next 2 years

Just how much capacity NextEra's yieldco will acquire still to be decided, but numbers are potentially close to almost 1,200 MW.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 2, 2016

El Paso Electric becomes first Texas utility to generate power without coal

Without coal, the utility derives about 66% of its power from natural gas, 30% from the Palo Verde nuclear plant, and about 4% from solar.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 2, 2016

Massachusetts passes mandates for storage and 2.8 GW of offshore wind, hydro

The measure calls on utilities to to procure 1,600 MW of offshore wind and 1,200 MW of hydro, but did not include a boost to the renewable portfolio standards.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 2, 2016

Report: SunEdison's TerraForm Power up for auction in September

TerraForm Power, a yieldco formed by bankrupt SunEdison, has plans to auction its 2,987 MW renewables portfolio following an acquisition offer from for SunEdison’s stake.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 1, 2016

Independence Day: Local utilities ditch power suppliers for renewables, stable prices

A muni and a co-op in New Mexico are the latest utilities to cut ties with their generation supplier in search of more clean energy.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 1, 2016

Tesla agrees to $2.6B price tag for SolarCity merger

The agreement also includes a 45-day "go-shop" period, during which SolarCity may solicit offers from other companies.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 1, 2016

Future of Nevada solar ballot petition unclear after state Supreme Court hearing

The Nevada Supreme Court heard oral arguments last week to determine whether a proposed referendum will be placed on the ballot in November.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 1, 2016

Connecting the dots: PG&E DERMs pilot aims to manage multiple aggregator platforms

PG&E wants a distributed resource management system that can interact with any vendor's software.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 29, 2016