California water agency to use Tesla battery to slash peak demand by up to 14%

The utility plans to go "'gridless' by 2020 with almost no capital outlay."

By Robert Walton • Nov. 12, 2015

Republican lawmakers ask FERC to rethink PURPA

Three influential legislators say the law is forcing utilities to buy renewables at high rates.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 12, 2015

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

Dealing with stagnant load growth, ISO-New England turns to gas, efficiency and DERs

The region expects to lean heavily on energy efficiency and distributed resources to meet demand across the next decade.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 11, 2015

Feds grant two offshore wind leases off New Jersey coast

Wind developers U.S. Wind Inc. and RES Americas Development won the auction to develop nearly 344,000 water acres.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 11, 2015

Trade groups SEPA and ADS are merging to focus on DERs

Industry trade groups Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and the Association for Demand Response and Smart Grid (ADS) join up to expand SEPA's focus to include other smart-grid technologies. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Nov. 10, 2015

Coming soon to affordable housing: Solar-plus-storage?

Combining solar and storage at affordable housing projects can pay for itself if the conditions are right, according to a new report.

By Peter Maloney • Nov. 10, 2015

Researchers identify new storage tech for concentrated solar power plants

Researchers in Oregon and Florida have identified a storage medium that could widen the reach of concentrated solar power projects.

By Peter Maloney • Nov. 10, 2015

TXU Energy launches new solar financing venture for customers

The electricity retailer has teamed up with SunPower to offer customers "affordable financing options" for rooftop solar.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 10, 2015

Texas wind power is so cheap, electricity providers are giving it away

More than 50 power providers in Texas have offered consumers a good deal in the past three years thanks to cheap wind power having no place to go: Free electricity.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 10, 2015

Judge allows SolarCity lawsuit against Arizona utility SRP to move forward

An Arizona federal judge threw out SolarCity's claims for monetary damages and non-monetary relief but ruled that the lawsuit can proceed.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 10, 2015

DOE approves $1.2B transmission line for Canadian wind and hydro

The transmission line expected to import 1,000 MW of Canadian wind and hydro power to New England nears regulatory completion. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 10, 2015

Arizona utility TEP wants to add solar fee, reduce net metering credit

Tucson Electric Power is asking for several changes to its rates as it commits to 30% renewables by 2030. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 6, 2015

California solar advocates bring wheelbarrows of petitions to net metering fight

Solar advocates push to extend California's retail net energy metering credit as utility regulators consider three proposals from major utilities to add fixed charges and lower credits for solar users.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 6, 2015

Arizona Supreme Court to decide if waste qualifies as a renewable resource

The Sierra Club has asked the court to prevent waste-to-biofuels facilities from qualifying for the state's renewable energy mandate.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 6, 2015

BP technology report sees solar's biggest gains in storage

BP's Technology Outlook sees faster prices declines for storage technologies than any other sector in the energy industry.

By Peter Maloney • Nov. 6, 2015

Midwest power co-ops face steep challenges for Clean Power Plan compliance

Co-op officials aren't excited by the prospect of compliance with the regulatory package, which will push them to draw down coal generation and invest in cleaner energy.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 6, 2015

Greens slam SoCal Edison plan for 3 new gas plants in $12B grid modernization

While SCE is one of the nation's leading utilities in energy storage, it wants to construct three new gas plants it says are needed to integrate more renewable energy.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 5, 2015

Wind's huge October: Generation records set in 4 of 7 organized markets

Better turbines and new installed capacity from the recent ‘wind rush’ make the resource a significant part of the energy supply on grids across the nation. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 5, 2015

After public rebuke, Duke axes Carolina power line, downsizes gas plant proposal

The utility will construct two smaller gas-fired plants instead of one, and scrapped plans for a new line and substation, opting to lean on efficiency and demand management instead. 

By Robert Walton • Nov. 5, 2015

Duke urges regulators to deny TPO solar bid from green group, church

The utility says the protest act by activist group NC WARN is breaking the law and deserves $1,000 fine every day.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 4, 2015

Florida's solar ballot proposals reortedly causing confusion among voters

Similar names and a wonky topic could contribute to confusion among voters over dueling solar ballot initiatives, according to an Orlando Sentinel columnist. 

By Robert Walton • Nov. 4, 2015

New Mexico regulators deny El Paso Electric monthly charge on distributed generation

The ruling to protect DG owners from discriminatory ratemaking practices follows similar decisions in other states.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 3, 2015

Hawaii's largest solar array, complete with storage, now online

REC Solar has brought a 12 MW solar system online for Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, which is paired with a lithium-ion battery system to smooth renewable integration.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 3, 2015

Ice, ice energy: The hot market for cooled liquid energy storage

Ice Energy and CALMAC are proving their value while newer technologies wrestle with cost.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 3, 2015

The day after: How solar can thrive in the post-net metering era

With storage, TOU rates and control tech, solar can boom in the absence of net metering and benefit utilities as well.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 3, 2015