Utilities

Utilities

PG&E lands $15B federal loan guarantee to expand clean energy

It’s the biggest conditional commitment ever from the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, which is racing to disburse funds before Trump takes office.

By Jeff St. John . 17 December 2024
Utilities

How to make EVs get along with the grid

Electric vehicles could overwhelm local grids. Managed charging offers a solution, and utilities are eager to get their EV-driving customers signed up.

By Jeff St. John . 13 December 2024
Utilities

Data centers are driving US power demand to hard-to-reach heights

Big Tech wants massive amounts of energy to fuel their AI ambitions. That could strain utilities, ratepayers, and efforts to decarbonize the grid.

By Jeff St. John . 9 December 2024
Utilities

Xcel Energy says data centers won’t delay Minnesota clean energy target

At a regulatory workshop, a utility exec said Xcel can serve data centers and meet its 2040 clean energy mandate, but it might need to extend the life of gas plants.

By Frank Jossi . 5 December 2024
Clean energy

Voters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, create a local clean energy utility

The municipal effort aims to supplement utility DTE's grid with local, reliable, clean energy at below-market rates.

By Julian Spector . 20 November 2024
Transmission

This DOE-backed software is helping to unclog the grid

GridUnity’s software can shave 12 months from the sluggish interconnection process that’s stalling clean power. A $50M DOE grant is helping it expand.

By Jeff St. John . 12 November 2024
Politics

Republicans sweep key utility regulator races in Arizona and Louisiana

Public utility commissions hold significant sway over state energy systems. Clean energy advocates failed to break through in elections this year.

By Julian Spector . 7 November 2024
Utilities

Regulators OK Duke Energy's gas-plant buildout despite N.C. climate law

The utility is supposed to cut greenhouse gas emissions 70% by 2030, but North Carolina's utility commission has approved its plan to build new fossil-gas power plants.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 6 November 2024
Politics

Clean energy is on the ballot in these utility regulator races

Ten states elect their public utility commissions, which make big decisions about energy. This November, the stakes are high, especially in Arizona and Louisiana.

By Julian Spector . 25 October 2024
Distributed energy resources

Hurricane Helene underscores need for more solar-battery microgrids

Distributed solar and batteries are helping North Carolina communities that were cut off from grid power by flooding. Should utilities build them into resilience plans?

By Jeff St. John . 18 October 2024