Illinois renewable energy plan details extensive equity measures for future solar, energy projects

Per the terms of a new state law, the plan calls for equitable hiring requirements for contractors and establishes pilot projects to study and remove barriers for low-income residents.

By Emma Penrod • March 24, 2022

Ukraine war could extend bump in US coal use, but utilities remain confident in decarbonization path

When 2021 natural gas demand drove prices up, generators turned to coal. The war in Ukraine seems to be driving a similar pattern.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 24, 2022

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

DOE eyes hydrogen, thermal storage to shrink carbon footprint of fossil fuel plants

The technologies could help bolster grid reliability and affordability while also potentially supporting the Biden administration's goal to decarbonize the electric grid by 2035, according to DOE.

By Kavya Balaraman • March 23, 2022

AEP sets course for rapid increase in renewables after completing company's largest wind farm

With the 998 MW Traverse Wind Energy Center now operating, the company is "moving pretty aggressively" to acquire 16 GW of renewable energy by 2030, according to Senior Vice President Antonio Smyth.

By Emma Penrod • March 22, 2022

How grid operators are leaving F-gases, fossils and inefficiency behind

For heavy emitting sectors, such as the electricity industry, pressure is intensifying to find solutions to slash emissions and lower its carbon footprint.  

March 21, 2022

Virginia approves 1 GW solar and energy storage expansion by Dominion Energy

Dominion Energy will need to maintain a similar pace of development for years in order to meet a state-mandated decarbonization target, according to a company spokesman.

By Emma Penrod • March 17, 2022

As Duke and Dominion ramp up their net zero goals, the supply chain comes into view

The companies have expanded their net zero commitments to include Scope 3 emissions. What will that take?

By Jason Plautz • March 16, 2022

Solar growth, new installations slowing in the face of 18% price increases, report says

Utility-scale solar has so far borne the brunt of the impact of growing supply chain constraints and uncertainty, which are expected to reduce solar installations in 2022, according to a new report.

By Emma Penrod • March 14, 2022

California prepares for $10.5M port renovations for offshore wind development

The funding will help outfit the Humboldt Bay port — an area that is estimated to accommodate 1.6 GW of offshore wind — to handle the development and integration of floating platforms. 

By Kavya Balaraman • March 11, 2022

Have some renewable energy? An investor would like to speak with you.

After stagnating for more than a decade, demand for renewable energy investments is now surging, leading to questions about how long the current pace can continue.

By Emma Penrod • March 10, 2022

Florida passes net metering bill that will gut rooftop solar, advocates say, as they call for a veto

The bill, widely supported by utilities, would "throttle" customer-owned solar in the state, according to distributed energy advocates.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 8, 2022

Accounting for clean-energy capacity value in PJM would lower costs, emissions, RMI study finds

The report released Tuesday comes as the PJM Interconnection is considering options for including clean-energy procurement in its markets.

By Ethan Howland • March 8, 2022

Pruning the thorns in transmission and generator interconnection reform

The clean transition no longer lacks capital, but it suffers from regulation that discourages its efficient use, the authors write.

By Jennifer Chen and Devin Hartman • March 8, 2022

2021 deals position US to be a global hydrogen leader: BloombergNEF

While records were broken for U.S. clean energy investment last year, the Energy Information Administration says more policy action will be needed for renewable sources to surpass natural gas and petroleum in the U.S. by 2050.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 4, 2022

How to reform net energy metering the right way

Economist Ahmad Faruqui proposes a path for California's NEM reform that he says would realize the goals of utilities without sacrificing the state's rooftop solar market.

By Ahmad Faruqui • March 4, 2022

SEPA offers decision-making framework to help organizations develop decarbonization plans

Based on published research and the real-world experiences of industry leaders, the report is intended to reduce decision paralysis around decarbonization, SEPA said.

By Emma Penrod • March 3, 2022

California's utilities are not out to kill rooftop solar

Existing residential solar has significantly contributed to California's decarbonization commitments, but going forward, the state should fulfill its future commitments in a more efficient, least-cost manner, the author writes. 

By Robert Borlick • March 2, 2022

Avangrid, Exelon among 90+ organizations joining DOE challenge to slash carbon emissions 50% by 2032

A new voluntary initiative will allow industry leaders to share data and test strategies for rapid decarbonization alongside the U.S. Department of Energy, according to an announcement made Monday.

By Emma Penrod • March 1, 2022

The future is now: Doubling down on fossil fuels is not the solution to New England's energy needs

To move beyond a time when every cold snap is punctuated by going to our dirtiest resources, we must break our central reliance on fossil fuel infrastructure, the author writes. 

By Joe Curtatone • March 1, 2022

Self-Build Option: Balancing needs of renewables developers and utilities in drive for a clean energy future

Interconnecting renewables to the grid is a hurdle that’s hindering momentum towards a carbon-neutral future. The solution for some utilities could be to allow the renewable developer to self-build a Point of Interconnection (POI) substation.

By Chad Crabtree, P.E., Market Director-Renewables, and Mark Scheid, P.E., Associate Director-Key Clients, Ulteig • Feb. 28, 2022

AEP to sell unregulated wind and solar assets to sharpen focus on transmission, regulated renewables

AEP plans to spend $38 billion over five years to foster a "major transformation," according to CEO Nick Akins.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 25, 2022

DOE announces supply chain strategy for clean energy

The administration will back critical materials mining and domestic manufacturing in a bid to capture the clean energy economy. 

By Jason Plautz • Feb. 24, 2022

Investor-owned utilities underestimate potential costs of carbon, climate change, Deloitte finds

Potential costs to utilities could escalate if action is delayed, a Deloitte analyst says, while more accurate representations of the risks posed by climate change could create a greater sense of urgency.

By Emma Penrod • Feb. 24, 2022

Largest US offshore wind lease auction attracts $4B

The Bureau of Energy Management concluded on Friday its auction for six parcels of land off the shore of New York and New Jersey, estimated to support 5.6 GW to 7 GW of development.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Feb. 28, 2022

Transmission, reliability and gas system decarbonization top of mind for state utility regulators in 2022

Energy Innovation analysts share their top takeaways from last week's NARUC policy summit, along with insights for unlocking access to low-cost renewables, bolstering system reliability, and cutting natural gas emissions.

By Michelle Solomon and Hadley Tallackson • Feb. 23, 2022