PG&E asks bankruptcy court to approve 'discounted' PPAs for storage and renewables projects

Three developers separately approached Pacific Gas & Electric to negotiate changes, in order to reduce project uncertainty created by the utility's bankruptcy.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 2, 2019

GE Renewables notches $184M Q2 loss, despite strong revenue growth

The company cited a host of reasons for the loss, including increased research and development spending, and project execution issues, particularly in Asia.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 1, 2019

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

Southwest Power Pool moves to boost reliability, storage amid CEO resignation

The buildout of cheap renewables and the large queue of battery storage projects prompted stakeholders to ask SPP to study the reliability impacts of a grid with less conventional generation.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 1, 2019

Ameren cancels 157 MW wind project, citing transmission upgrade costs

The Missouri project would have required "unacceptably high" expenses that the utility said it didn't want to push on to ratepayers.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 30, 2019

NextEra inks 700 MW wind + solar + battery project, largest in the US

The Oklahoma facility is also the first of its kind in the Southwest Power Pool, developers say.

By Robert Walton • July 29, 2019

Wholesale electricity market design for rapid decarbonization: A decentralized markets approach

What wholesale market design would provide the best framework for integrating reliably and at least cost the new, clean resources that will be needed to de-carbonize the power system?

By Rob Gramlich and Michael Hogan • July 29, 2019

Proposed legislation would extend solar investment tax credit 5 years

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., proposed the bill along with 15 other Democrats, while a bipartisan trio of representatives introduced a companion version in the House.

By Robert Walton • July 29, 2019

Few US cities on track to meet climate goals: ACEEE

Cities took on more than 265 climate initiatives in 2018, but most aren't adequately tracking their progress, and nearly 35% of cities have not set GHG reduction targets. 

By Katie Pyzyk • July 26, 2019

ERCOT: Wind outpaced coal on Texas grid for the first time

In the first six months of 2019, wind accounted for roughly 22% of generation in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas — besting coal generation by less than half of 1%.

By Robert Walton • July 26, 2019

DOE announces $16M in funding for 14 tribal energy projects, including solar, storage

Several multi-million dollar solar and efficiency projects are expected to save tribes even more over project lifetimes.

By Max Witynski • July 25, 2019

Apple leads second-biggest year for commercial solar installations: SEIA

Power purchase agreements and off-site installations play an important role as more companies add solar capacity.

By Max Witynski • July 25, 2019

Chicago considers municipalizing ComEd

The utility's contract with the city expires at the end of 2020 and city leaders believe they could accelerate decarbonization and lower rates through municipalization.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 25, 2019

Federal bill could restore biogas tax credits, bolster organics infrastructure

The expiration of a 30% investment tax credit — responsible for growing the wind and solar sectors — has reduced financing options for anaerobic digesters in recent years.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Sept. 27, 2019

Duke Energy Renewables acquires 200 MW Texas solar project, largest in its fleet

Energy from the project will be sold through a 12-year hedge agreement, the first time the Duke subsidiary has used such a financing mechanism for solar.

By Robert Walton • July 24, 2019

PGE plans 150 MWa renewables, 4 MW storage, finds wind cheaper than gas to meet future capacity

Approximately 350 MW of Portland General Electric's capacity contracts expire in the mid-2020s. Wind may be the cheapest way to meet that demand.

By Robert Walton • July 23, 2019

Island-wide outage on Kaua'i: Clouds block solar recovery after generator's cable failure

Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative's largest generator tripped offline on Sunday, leading to a power outage followed by continued rolling blackouts.

By Robert Walton • July 23, 2019

Michigan approves 455 MW DTE wind power purchase

Regulators conditionally approved the purchase of three projects, and approval for more is expected under the utility's pending integrated resource plan.

By Robert Walton • July 22, 2019

New York awards record 1,700 MW offshore wind contracts

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced two separate projects being developed by Equinor and Ørsted as the first segment of the state's 9,000 MW offshore wind target.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 19, 2019

Mayors call for new 'Marshall Plan,' federal resiliency office to fight climate change

A committee of 10 Democrats promised to continue studying climate change, holding more hearings and fostering partnerships with governments at all other levels as well as with the private sector.

By Chris Teale • July 18, 2019

Hawaiian Electric finalizes largest-ever renewables procurement

The utility submitted a final request for proposals to state regulators, seeking approximately 900 MW of new renewables.

By Robert Walton • July 18, 2019

CAISO to require equipment improvements for inverter-based generation

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved tariff revisions earlier this month, allowing the California grid operator to implement new requirements.

By Robert Walton • July 18, 2019

Moloka'i's storage solution: 'Dynamic load bank' will waste a little solar to allow for more

The solution is cheaper than installing battery storage and will allow for approximately 725 kW of new rooftop solar systems on the island.

By Robert Walton • July 17, 2019

North Bay completes Canada's first utility-scale microgrid

The Community Energy Park in Ontario will deploy natural gas and solar for combined heat and power.

By Max Witynski • July 17, 2019

State carbon free policies increasingly inclusive of nuclear, but resource needs federal boost

The poor economics of nuclear generation stymie investments in the private sector, making federal policy necessary.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 17, 2019

Colorado regulators cancel Black Hills Energy TOU pilot amid concerns for low-income customers

The PUC chairman suggested combining TOU with demand side management could better empower low income customers to take control of their bills.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 17, 2019