Renewable advocates highlight 'most effective' path to net-zero emissions as House releases clean energy framework

The CLEAN Future Act is set to be introduced by House Democrats later this year.

By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 10, 2020

Google, NV Energy renewable megadeal includes rare storage component

The deal includes 350 MW of solar and up to 280 MW of energy storage, but storage deals for corporate buyers often don't pencil out, an analyst said, because the renewable generation is already fairly cheap.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 10, 2020

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

Tri-State to shut New Mexico, Colorado coal plants by 2030, but move may not satisfy unhappy members

While environmental advocates called it "a step in the right direction," they said Tri State's plan does not fully address concerns about energy prices and the ability of members to develop local renewable resources.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 10, 2020

Corporate solar sector funding rises to $11.7B, buoyed by debt financing

After sharp declines from the middle of the last decade, VC, public market and debt financing of solar companies increased slightly from 2018 to 2019.

By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 9, 2020

Reduced coal generation drove power sector greenhouse emissions down 10% in 2019, report says

Meanwhile, coal plant retirements between 2005 and 2016 saved an estimated 26,610 lives, 570 million bushels of crops and had significant climate impacts, another study found.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 8, 2020

Bipartisan bill aims to end Dominion's monopoly in Virginia

Dominion and other utilities oppose efforts to deregulate retail markets, saying it can increase costs, but similar bills are expected this year in Florida, Colorado and other states.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 8, 2020

PJM: Electric vehicles could boost load 1.5 GW by 2035

One industry group says the forecast is likely too modest, as the addition of a plug-in vehicle can nearly double a household's electric consumption and adoption is expected to rise rapidly.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 7, 2020

South Carolina raises rates Dominion must pay to solar providers, reversing earlier decision

Dominion would have paid some of the lowest avoided cost rates in the country, according to clean energy groups, and the new decision is more consistent with directives under the state's Energy Freedom Act.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 7, 2020

FERC's clean energy boycott distorts PJM prices and discards history

The new rules approved for PJM's capacity auction will force the grid operator to buy more capacity than it needs to keep the lights on, according to Harvard energy lawyer Ari Peskoe.

By Ari Peskoe • Jan. 7, 2020

Making the case for billion-dollar investments in grid modernization by answering 3 key questions

Boston Consulting Group’s framework prioritizes the business case for grid mod investments to win stakeholder and regulator backing for billion-dollar spending.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 6, 2020

Judge tells Michigan regulators to send DTE back to drawing board on its long-term resource plan

The Administrative Law Judge criticized the utility's calculations of its energy needs and rejected its plan for failing to issue a mandatory Request for Proposals to solicit accurate prices for renewable resources.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 3, 2020

Trump Administration approves NV Energy's 690 MW, 1.5 GWh Gemini solar+storage project

The Obama Administration previously rejected the $1 billion project under an agreement with conservation groups that protected sensitive desert land from wind and solar development.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated May 12, 2020

FERC move to raise PJM capacity market bids shows 'clear bias' against new, clean generation: Glick

The order will raise the floor price for new generation bidding into PJM Interconnection that receives any form of state subsidy.

By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 20, 2019

Virginia, Maryland unveil 100% clean energy plans, but NGOs not satisfied

The separate legislative efforts announced this week face criticisms from clean energy groups of being insufficient to facilitate a clean energy transition.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 20, 2019

NERC: Grid operators must prepare for 330 GW of renewables by 2029

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation expects adequate capacity reserves will be available to meet increasing peak demand over the next 10 years, but warned of challenges to integrating more intermittent resources.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 20, 2019

Tax credit, net metering declines strike distributed solar, but falling costs, storage offer new hope

With tax credits and net metering threatened, previous withdrawals of financial support mechanisms show what the distributed solar industry may soon face.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 19, 2019

Clean energy advocates want New York to move quickly on 70% renewables goal

More than a dozen conservation groups submitted to New York regulators a set of recommended "principles" to guide integration of one of the nation's most aggressive climate goals.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 19, 2019

Goldman Sachs bolsters climate policy with $750B goal, fossil-fuel restrictions

The company pledged to stop financing new coal-fired power plants in developing nations, unless they have carbon capture and storage or another form of technology to reduce emissions.

By Dan Ennis • Dec. 18, 2019

Xcel, 3 other Colorado utilities choose California's imbalance market over Southwest Power Pool

A comparison of California's Western Energy Imbalance Market with a similar offering from SPP found the larger market offered greater savings, according to four utilities.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 18, 2019

For a smart transition to 100% clean energy: Renewables, storage and, in some cases, new gas

Just because we can't achieve a perfectly zero-carbon grid with renewables and short-duration storage doesn't mean we shouldn't aim to achieve a nearly zero-carbon grid.

By Arne Olson and Dan Mullen • Dec. 18, 2019

House foregoes new tax credits for storage, offshore wind as it approves $1.4T spending bill

The Senate passed the spending bills on Thursday, which included a one-year tax credit extension for onshore wind, and incentives for geothermal, biodiesel and Native American-owned coal plants.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Dec. 20, 2019

Investigations of ComEd, Exelon lobbying threaten Illinois energy transition

Lawmakers and clean energy advocates vow to continue fighting for the state's landmark clean energy bill despite a "black cloud of corruption."

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 17, 2019

House green bank bill aims to leverage $35B in government funding into $1T in private investment

The effort had bipartisan, bicameral support in 2018, and the reintroduction is meant to prepare the bill for passage in early 2021.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 16, 2019

Arizona rejects APS push for 2-year PURPA contracts, approving 18-year terms

Regulators ruled the long-term contracts would provide renewables facilities with the opportunity to build more capital, despite opposition from the Arizona Public Service.

By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 13, 2019

Dominion extends poop power push with $200M Vanguard Renewables partnership

The five projects trap methane from cow manure to create renewable natural gas offer "a new way to improve on farm economics."

By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 13, 2019