Corporate clean energy PPAs doubled to 13 GW in 2018: BNEF

Corporate PPAs are driving wind and solar growth, while energy storage isn't yet cost competitive enough to be paired with renewables for those agreements, according to BNEF.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 29, 2019

Consumers Energy begins to experiment with solar-plus-storage

The utility has rolled out the first solar-plus-storage project in Michigan, calling it a "critical part" of the state's energy future.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 29, 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

FERC claims 'concurrent jurisdiction' in PG&E-NextEra bankruptcy dispute

The commission's Friday order could give NextEra and other power producers an avenue to preserve contracts with PG&E if the utility invalidates them as part of its Chapter 11 proceeding. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 28, 2019

NextEra 'very comfortable' despite PG&E bankruptcy concerns

During its Q4 earnings call, the company said it had several financial vehicles to mitigate for the effects of a potential PG&E bankruptcy proceeding.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 28, 2019

Tendril grows its load monitoring operations to help shift peak demand

With its latest acquisition of nonintrusive load monitoring technology to process data from advanced metering infrastructure, the company wants to help utilities flatten their loads without help from their customers.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 24, 2019

PG&E, SCE, SDG&E pursue subscriptions, time-of-use rates to drive more California EVs

As regulators call for a more formal transportation electrification framework, the state's utilities are stepping up with pilot programs that address peak demand and rate concerns.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 23, 2019

PG&E, NextEra face off in bankruptcy-related FERC filings

Pacific Gas & Electric expects the bankruptcy process to stretch two years, or possibly longer, leaving developers worried about getting paid for their existing power purchase agreements.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 23, 2019

Bundling small capacity solar: How Bloomberg, Salesforce made VPPA's work for them

The companies partnered with Gap, Cox Enterprises and Workday to purchase 42.5 MW of a larger North Carolina solar project in a collaboration that aims to empower businesses with smaller energy needs to contract renewable energy.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 23, 2019

A new lease on life for Holyoke, Massachusetts' former coal-fired power plant

The Mount Tom Station was replaced by a solar farm with a three-megawatt battery storage system and 17,000 solar panels — the state's largest.

By Chris Teale • Jan. 22, 2019

Minnesota study finds it cheaper to curtail solar than to add storage

A report studies Minnesota's options for 70% renewable penetration and finds surprising results regarding energy storage.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 22, 2019

New Jersey advances first community solar pilot to power 45K homes

State regulators approved the rules for what could evolve into a permanent community solar program of at least 225 MW over the next three years.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 22, 2019

Texas regulators direct higher plant payments amid capacity crunch concerns

Changes to the state's market rules will make prices respond more quickly during times of grid stress, boosting payments to resources that can provide emergency power. 

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 22, 2019

Navigating utility business model reform: A practical guide

Rocky Mountain Institute, America's Power Plan and Advanced Energy Economy Institute provide a guide to modernizing the electric utility business model. 

By Dan Cross-Call, Cara Goldenberg and Mike O’Boyle • Jan. 22, 2019

Bailout doubt – PG&E faces bankruptcy amid California's 'first climate change-caused emergency'

Stakeholders say few will benefit from bankruptcy, but alternatives have been dubbed "politically too hot to touch."

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 22, 2019

Texas regulators defer to legislature on utility ownership of energy storage

The state's market for energy storage is in limbo since regulators dismissed a request by AEP Texas last year to install two battery storage projects.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 18, 2019

Greens, consumer advocates split as Louisiana approves $1B Cleco plant deal

The Sierra Club touted a renewable energy and coal phaseout deal it struck with the utility as part of the acquisition, but the Alliance for Affordable Energy is concerned Cleco will move the fossil plants into cost recovery.

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 18, 2019

The Supreme Court should reject requests for a do-over on state clean energy programs

Ruling against zero emission credit programs for nuclear plants could jeopardize renewable energy credits, too, and threaten to overturn policies in nearly thirty states, according to Harvard's Ari Peskoe.

By Ari Peskoe • Jan. 17, 2019

2018 global clean energy spending falls 8% to $332B, offshore wind rises 14%: BNEF

While offshore wind attracted almost $26 billion in investment last year, the "most striking shifts" on spending were in the solar sector, with the cost of installing a megawatt of capacity dropping 12% last year.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 17, 2019

Florida Power & Light aims to install more solar panels than any regulated utility

The utility said Wednesday it wants to install 30 million solar panels by 2030, which could translate to 8 GW to 10 GW of capacity or more, according to some estimates.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 17, 2019

New York Gov Cuomo moves to double solar, triple offshore wind capacity targets

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a slew of new goals on Tuesday as part of New York's "Green New Deal," which aims to move the state to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 16, 2019

Lowering bills for low-income households with community solar: Partnering on regs, tech

A Minnesota-based non-profit applied its expertise to help shepherd an Energy Assistance provider's 100-kW project in southeast Vermont.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 15, 2019

'Unlayering' peak demand could accelerate energy storage adoption

A new approach to the peaker-storage debate could help energy storage better meet peak demand and lower emissions.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 15, 2019

Tri-State members increasingly unsatisfied as the rise of distributed resources upends the G&T model

Given the increasing affordability of renewable energy, "the very reason G&Ts were created is less valid every day," Chris Riley, president of Guzman Energy, told Utility Dive.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 15, 2019

2019 Power Sector Outlook: Top trends to watch

We talked to utilities, analysts and technology providers on what to expect in the year ahead for storage, solar, demand-side management and more.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 15, 2019

PUC order keeps Minnesota ahead of the curve on performance-based rates

The order, the culmination of a process that began in September 2017, establishes procedures and goals for developing metrics for performance-based rates by the fall.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 11, 2019