DOE’s Jigar Shah details the operations of the Loan Programs Office handling IRA funding

Deals made by the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office are typically confidential, but Shah discussed details of some recent projects at a Resources for the Future policy leadership event on Tuesday.

By Emma Penrod • June 22, 2023

False promises: As states tackle residential solar complaints, how companies can avoid problems

Misrepresentations have spurred the ire of state AGs when solar companies exaggerate their systems’ potential to save consumers money, despite financing that may end up costing the consumer more.

By Clayton S. Friedman, Ryan Strasser, Mackenzie W.J. Jessup and Carson Cox • June 22, 2023

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

Hydropower, America’s first renewable industry, could help achieve net zero — if Treasury allows it

Requiring energy producers to source electricity only from newly built clean power would negatively impact the United States’ ability to rapidly scale its clean hydrogen industry.

By Malcolm Woolf • June 21, 2023

Four non-transmission solutions for clean energy with new power lines in the permitting ‘Valley of Death’

Smart technologies, storage, overbuilding and distributed resources can move the energy transition ahead until workable reforms bring new transmission online, stakeholders agreed

By Herman K. Trabish • June 21, 2023

NYISO picks $3.3B transmission project to deliver 3,000 MW of offshore wind power from Long Island

The transmission project is a “critical step forward as the state works to meet its ambitious climate mandates,” said Rich Dewey, NYISO’s president and CEO.

By Stephen Singer • June 21, 2023

Solar installations had a record Q1, but market volatility expected to persist through 2024, SEIA reports

Solar companies posted a record first quarter earlier this year, but slowing sales data could suggest a temporary contraction is on its way, a Wood Mackenzie analyst said.

By Emma Penrod • June 20, 2023

First Solar, 10 other companies urge IRS to adopt hourly time-matching rules for green hydrogen tax credits

As more companies agree that hourly matching would reduce emissions and encourage growth, timing the transition to that standard is now the key area of debate, a legal officer for Electric Hydrogen said.

By Emma Penrod • June 20, 2023

Partnering with consumers in the wake of climate disaster

How utilities can use consumer-focused tech to fight climate change.

By Devrim Celal, CEO of KrakenFlex, part of the Octopus Energy Group • June 20, 2023

Proposed update to public land rules could provide 80% reduction in renewable project fees, says Interior

The Department of the Interior said it hopes to increase the economic certainty of renewables projects sited on public land by reducing costs for developers, and pass along savings to ratepayers.

By Diana DiGangi • June 16, 2023

DOE launches 7th round of solar innovation competition, offering $4M in prizes

The prizes for hardware and software solutions are intended to spur innovations in the solar sector and address challenges to deployment.

By Diana DiGangi • June 15, 2023

IRS guidance on renewable tax credit transferability, direct-pay provisions of IRA, garners mixed reviews

Inflexibility around the Inflation Reduction Act’s domestic content requirements threatens nonprofits’ ability to own and develop renewable energy, Large Public Power Council President John Di Stasio said.

By Emma Penrod • June 15, 2023

How the debt ceiling bill’s permitting deal hurt the outlook for deeper reforms, transmission legislation

With prospects for legislation reduced, the focus on transmission turns to FERC. Acting Chairman Willie Phillips aims to issue final interconnection reforms soon and will push for increased transfer capacity between regions.

By Ethan Howland • June 14, 2023

California’s urban roofs provide more value for community solar+storage than rural areas: report

State and federal incentives could help “ensure that not all of our community solar is getting built in the cheapest areas out in rural locations,” said a solar developer’s Western policy director.

By Ysabelle Kempe • June 13, 2023

Duke Energy sells 3.4-GW commercial renewables business to Brookfield for $2.8B

The utility company said it plans to use the proceeds to strengthen its balance sheet and focus on growing its regulated business.

By Diana DiGangi • Updated Oct. 26, 2023

Regulators are changing the game just as ESG investing gets its bearings: ACORE panel

ESG funds have exploded in popularity in recent years, but their success has attracted backlash from politicians and increased oversight from regulators, finance experts said.

By Emma Penrod • June 9, 2023

An IRA renewables boom amid economic uncertainty will require reimagining financing, say bankers

Financing the number of proposed renewable energy projects “is going to stress the entire banking system unless we start to bring in other investors, like insurance companies,” said Wells Fargo executive Alok Garg.

By Diana DiGangi • June 9, 2023

Consumer groups, R Street urge FERC to expand interconnection reform proposal to increase savings

“Rapidly escalating interconnection costs are being heavily incurred by consumers,” the R Street Institute’s Devin Hartman said.

By Ethan Howland • June 9, 2023

Washington regulators conditionally approve Puget Sound Energy’s 63% clean electricity by 2025 target

The interim target is part of Puget Sound Energy’s first-ever clean energy implementation plan, required by state legislation passed in 2019.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 9, 2023

Post-IRA optimism continues for renewable energy developers, but have expectations soared too high?

Implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act is proceeding apace, but unrealistic expectations for how quickly the U.S. can develop transmission and a domestic supply chain abound, experts say.

By Emma Penrod • June 8, 2023

As states differ on the benefits of Bitcoin, is there a solution to its climate and power-system impacts?

Bitcoin miners’ 24/7 electricity need and financial focus raise red flags for climate activists about increased fossil fuel use, but some miners are starting to see a new solution in clean energy.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 8, 2023

Offshore wind news and policy: Tracking the latest US developments

Updates include New Hampshire legislation that would have the state reject all offshore wind proposals, and New York legislation that would set new offshore wind goals.

By Diana DiGangi and Jasmine Ye Han • Updated March 27, 2025

As offshore wind projects and policies grow, floating turbines will be key to Biden’s 30 GW by 2030 goal

With 16 farms under construction, offshore wind in the U.S. has “achieved key momentum,” says the Department of Energy’s offshore wind lead, Jocelyn Brown-Saracino.

By Diana DiGangi • June 6, 2023

Constellation sets hydrogen-gas plant blending record, but more advances needed for utility-scale use: experts

Constellation Energy’s Hillabee Generating Station ran on 38% hydrogen during a May 18 test, setting new expectations for the fuel’s potential to reduce emissions from gas-fired power plants.

By Emma Penrod • June 5, 2023

Hundreds of US localities restrict renewables siting, with 293 projects currently contested: Columbia report

”Local opposition to renewable energy facilities is widespread and growing,” according to the report.

By Diana DiGangi • June 5, 2023

As Google, Meta, others ramp up clean energy buying, ‘carbon matching’ offers cheapest path: report

Companies have contracted for 77 GW of clean energy in the U.S., up from about 10 GW in 2017, and are seeking expanded options for buying more emissions-free electricity.

By Ethan Howland • June 5, 2023