Utilities

Batteries

Green Mountain Power and Tesla break grid barriers with behind-the-meter batteries

Internet-controlled home Powerwalls are providing second-by-second frequency regulation — a big step for proving distributed energy’s grid capabilities.

By Jeff St. John . 21 May 2021
Solar

Swinerton goes big on solar-plus-storage, navigates Biden and unions

The president of the top U.S. solar engineering, procurement and construction firm talks to Canary about labor, unions, diversity and zip ties.

By Eric Wesoff . 17 May 2021
Energy storage

The architecture firm that wants to combine gravity storage with data centers

Data centers have to test their backup generators at least every month. WZMH Architects has a plan for what to do with the energy that is wasted.

By Jason Deign . 14 May 2021
Grid edge

Voltus raises $31M to go after the grid value of distributed energy

A VoltApp to aggregate DERs and a regulatory strategy to tap into new markets nationwide.

By Jeff St. John . 13 May 2021
Wind

Newsletter: Gas pipelines down, wind turbines up

Utility cybersecurity issues, the Colonial pipeline shutdown, and a big win for offshore wind.

By Julian Spector . 13 May 2021
Utilities

PG&E’s $7.5B securitization: A bellwether for utility efforts to cover the costs of climate change?

Wildfire liability financing under scrutiny in California could presage efforts in other states to offset costs of coal plant retirements and climate-change mitigations.

By Elizabeth McCarthy . 11 May 2021
Fossil fuels

The Colonial pipeline ransomware shutdown: A wake-up call for energy cybersecurity

How digital hostage-taking can bring about the breakdown of fossil fuel networks — and threaten the power grid.

By Jeff St. John . 11 May 2021
Guest essay

What's different about the utilities at the forefront of the energy transition?

A new SEPA survey identifies key traits of utilities that are taking the lead in the transition to clean energy.

By Julia Hamm . 11 May 2021
Nuclear

Biden going nuclear with a tax credit? Plus, an advanced reactor news roundup

A production tax credit for nuclear power generation could make its way into the $2.3 trillion jobs and infrastructure plan.

By Eric Wesoff . 10 May 2021
Guest essay

Utilities can’t be for the Paris Agreement and against building electrification

Energy companies are making a bad bet on fossil fuels in buildings. Investors don’t want to take the hit.

By Lila Holzman, Daniel Stewart . 5 May 2021