With looming EV load spikes, PG&E, Duke, other utilities adopt new rate design and cost recovery strategies

New dynamic time-varying rates and demand charge adjustments from California to the Carolinas could align customer usage with utility costs to make EVs a system benefit, rate design experts said

By Herman K. Trabish • April 18, 2023

Renewable energy PPA prices continue to rise despite Inflation Reduction Act relief: LevelTen

Renewable energy prices continued their two-year climb after a brief reprieve at the end of 2022, according to the latest data from LevelTen’s energy marketplace.

By Emma Penrod • April 18, 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

Modernizing the last mile: Distribution is key to resilient power grid

Extreme weather continues to be a major threat to grid reliability and resilience.

April 17, 2023

Global wind energy set to hit 1 TW in 2023 and double in 8 years: WoodMac

Wind energy’s growth reflects an overall trend of big leaps in clean energy capacity that grid transmission and interconnection capabilities are struggling to keep up with, says the managing director of Advanced Energy United.

By Diana DiGangi • April 13, 2023

Price stability of residential solar may attract consumers amid high power prices: solar executive

The average person’s electric bill “may have increased 30 to 40%, while the cost of solar is an extra 10 to 15% versus what it was a year ago,” says Empower Energy Solutions owner and President Asim Hafeez.

By Diana DiGangi • April 13, 2023

Grid connections will remain a huge challenge for clean energy if FERC fails to meet this moment

To promote competition, interconnection reforms need standard processes and rules that leave little room for interpretation or discretion.

By Sean Gallagher • April 13, 2023

BLM clears way for $3B TransWest Express transmission project to start construction this year

The 732-mile project is designed to deliver 3,000 MW of wind generation from Wyoming to California and the Southwest.

By Ethan Howland • April 12, 2023

US grid interconnection backlog jumps 40%, with wait times expected to grow as IRA spurs more renewables

The good news, experts say, is there has been movement on short- and long-term solutions to interconnection backlogs.

By Emma Penrod • April 11, 2023

7 Northeast states submit $1.25B proposal for federal hydrogen hub

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, D, said the hub provides an opportunity to “leverage substantial federal funding to begin building a market for clean hydrogen that will address some of our most difficult to decarbonize sectors.” 

By Stephen Singer • April 10, 2023

PacifiCorp plans to reach 7.4 GW of storage by 2029, 20 GW of wind and solar by 2032 in latest resource plan

The utility’s resource plan is expected to reduce its system's greenhouse gas emissions 70% from 2005 levels by the end of the decade and 100% by 2050.

By Kavya Balaraman • April 7, 2023

Summit Ridge VP: IRA made Qcells deal possible, but Treasury guidance will be key

Summit Ridge Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Leslie Elder says the industry is “awaiting additional clarity” as companies make big investment commitments.

By Diana DiGangi • April 6, 2023

USDA offers $1B in renewables grants, including funds for ‘underutilized’ technology like small hydropower

Farmers, ranchers and rural businesses will be eligible to receive up to $1 million for renewable energy projects.

By Diana DiGangi • April 6, 2023

IRS guidance clarifies ‘energy community’ definition for IRA tax credit eligibility

The guidance establishes which brownfield sites and coal communities qualify as energy communities for project development, as well as including offshore wind transmission sites as credit-eligible. 

By Diana DiGangi • April 4, 2023

Solar panels and energy storage are worth the cost to integrate into US grid, executives say

“We have to figure out how people can pay for these resources, and to pay for them we have to value them correctly,” said Jon Wellinghoff, a former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chairman.

By Patrick Cooley • April 4, 2023

NY moves toward public ownership, operation of renewable power in budget negotiated by state leaders

Supporters say it’s the biggest climate bill in the U.S. that will lead to the construction of publicly owned, 100% renewable energy. Opponents say it would undermine a successful model that relies on renewable energy and energy storage companies to develop projects in New York.

By Stephen Singer • April 3, 2023

North Carolina forges new path on net metering as other states cut rooftop solar incentives

State regulators partially accepted a deal worked out by Duke Energy and other stakeholders that includes a variable payment approach to net metering based on overall electricity demand on the grid.

By Patrick Cooley • March 31, 2023

In the heated debate over clean hydrogen rules, additionality doesn’t add up

A handful of observers are trying to undermine congressional intent by asking the administration to prohibit American manufacturers from having equal access to clean hydrogen production.

By Joe Dominguez • March 31, 2023

‘One bad incident could really set us back’ — DOI official advises proactive transparency on offshore wind

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s deputy director, Paul Huang, said the agency does not “rubber stamp” projects and that new technology will be evaluated thoroughly.

By Diana DiGangi • March 30, 2023

DOE releases strategy to reach 30 GW offshore wind by 2030, aiming to cut costs 30%, to $51/MWh

The agency says that a full commitment to reaching offshore wind goals would generate $12 billion in yearly investments.

By Diana DiGangi • March 30, 2023

Innovative technology emerges to support offshore wind siting, logistics

As the offshore wind industry races to meet the federal goal of deploying 30 GW by 2030, companies are capitalizing on a need for logistical and manufacturing solutions.

By Diana DiGangi • March 29, 2023

Electric generators will fill a critical role in developing hydrogen in the Los Angeles area, analysis finds

Hydrogen could play a key role in decarbonizing trucking and shipping, but power generation will likely need to catalyze its use in the Los Angeles area, researchers said Tuesday.

By Emma Penrod • March 28, 2023

Global energy transition investments must quadruple to $5T to reach climate targets: IRENA

Renewable deployments worldwide will have to grow from 3,000 GW today to 10,000 GW by 2030 to manage global warming, says a new report.

By Diana DiGangi • March 28, 2023

DOE’s SolSmart solar technical assistance program to double its reach by 2027

The SolSmart program has so far worked to improve solar markets in 488 communities, potentially impacting 134 million people.

By Diana DiGangi • March 27, 2023

Keeping the lights on down under: Energy lessons from Australia

In November 2022, a group of U.S. utility executives joined the Smart Electric Power Alliance on a fact-finding mission to understand the impact of the clean energy transition on Australia’s electricity markets.

By Cristin Lyons, Partner and Energy Practice Leader and Kevin Hernandez, Partner, ScottMadden • March 27, 2023

Sen. Rosen urges fellow Democrats to keep solar tariff pause in place, citing low US production capacity

Overturning the two-year tariff moratorium on imports from four Southeast Asian countries would be potentially “devastating” to the U.S. solar industry, the senator wrote. 

By Diana DiGangi • March 23, 2023