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02.16.21 Grid Edge 9

Demand charges are a big problem for EV fast-charging. Finding the right rates to replace them requires a careful balancing act. (Credit: EVgo)

Getting the Rates Right for a Public EV Charging Build-Out

Demand charges can tank the economics of early-stage electric-vehicle charging rollouts. Replacements must balance support for EV growth with fair cost-sharing.

by Jeff St. John

02.01.21 Grid Edge 8

SPP's energy trading market expansion is one of several steps across the U.S. to grow electricity markets and interstate transmission for a renewable-powered grid.

Growing Energy Markets: Southwest Power Pool Expands Day-Ahead Trading to the West

The latest real-time energy market expansion underscores a growing appetite for sharing renewable power across regions.

by Jeff St. John

01.26.21 Energy 12

The Sierra Club's definition of what utilities must do to reduce carbon emissions is very different from how utilities have set their own targets.

New Report Shows Gap Between Utility Carbon Pledges and Climate Change Imperatives

The Sierra Club says utility pledges “greenwash” coal and natural gas. Utilities point to the costs of massive fossil plant shutdowns.

by Jeff St. John

11.11.20 Perspectives 0

Portland General Electric has enrolled one of four of all its customers in its Green Source program, a success that other utilities could emulate, researchers say.

Industry Perspective

US Voluntary Clean Power Sales Keep Surging, With More Than a Little Help From Utilities

Innovations to tap increasing demand could open up voluntary clean power programs to millions more Americans.

by Eric O’Shaughnessy, Jenny Heeter, and Sara Dong

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10.30.20 Grid Edge 1

Xcel is accelerating wind and solar investments to boost Minnesota's economy as it seeks to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Xcel Targets $1.4B in Wind and Solar Investments, Outlines Broader Carbon-Reduction Goals

New renewables, EVs, a green hydrogen pilot and energy storage options will help the utility’s target of net-zero carbon by 2050.

by Jeff St. John

09.28.20 Energy 8

Ameren Missouri plans to add 5.4 gigawatts of wind and solar over 20 years.

Ameren Sets Goal of Net-Zero by 2050, Plots Major Wind and Solar Expansion in Midwest

Ameren Missouri’s IRP calls for 5.4 GW of renewables by 2040, but it keeps some coal and retains natural gas as an option.

by Jeff St. John

09.21.20 Solar 22

Duke Energy opened its new 560MW Asheville combined cycle natural gas plant this year. (Photo: Duke)

‘Math Doesn’t Yet Add Up’ for Utility Decarbonization Goals: Deloitte

There are big gaps between U.S. utilities’ net-zero targets and their plans for retiring coal and gas plants.

by Jeff St. John

09.16.20 Grid Edge 8

Major utilities including Dominion and Duke have committed to eliminating their carbon pollution by midcentury.

The 5 Biggest US Utilities Committing to Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050

Utility net-zero carbon pledges are piling up, even if the companies are a long way from kicking their fossil fuel habits.

by Jeff St. John

07.23.20 Energy 1

Midwestern utility is building a gigawatt of solar to replace coal plants set for retirement

Wisconsin Utility Alliant Energy Pledges Net-Zero Carbon by 2050

Alliant joins rapidly growing list of U.S. utilities pledging to go net zero, including Duke, Southern Company and Xcel Energy.

by Jeff St. John

06.29.20 Energy 34

Tucson Electric Power is exiting its stake in coal-fired plants including the now-closed Navajo Generating Station.

2 More Western Utilities Move to Close Coal Plants Early, Shifting to Renewables and Storage

Unlike Colorado, Arizona has no clean energy or carbon mandates. Its utilities are ditching their coal plants anyway.

by Jeff St. John

06.16.20 Wind 2

2020 looks set to be the biggest year yet for U.S. installations of wind turbines, solar panels and batteries.

5 Key Clean Energy Projects That Barreled Through the Coronavirus Lockdowns

Fears that the outbreak would sideswipe the U.S. renewable energy market appear overblown so far, and the proof is in the projects.

by Karl-Erik Stromsta

05.27.20 Solar 5

Southern Company is building the only new U.S. nuclear capacity under construction, in Georgia.

Southern Company Commits to Net-Zero Carbon by 2050, but Seeks New Gas Plants for Now

Another major U.S. utility joins Duke, Dominion and Xcel Energy in looking to net out its emissions by midcentury — and this one is building nuclear capacity.

by Jeff St. John

05.26.20 Solar 0

Xcel, Consumers, Nipsco and other Midwestern utilities are embracing solar energy.

Wisconsin Has 150MW of Solar. Alliant Just Bought 675MW More

The Midwestern utility is buying a portfolio of large-scale solar projects as it moves to retire more uneconomic coal plants.

by Jeff St. John

Best of the Rest: 4 Emerging State Energy Storage Markets to Watch

GTM Squared

Best of the Rest: 4 Emerging State Energy Storage Markets to Watch

These states hold big potential for grid-scale batteries, but they’re still building toward sustainable investment opportunities.

by Julian Spector | April 1, 2020

02.03.20 2

A wind rotor blade being transported to a project site in Kansas.

Midwestern Utility Evergy Pledges Carbon Cuts in Line With Paris Accord

Kansas and Missouri aren’t asking much of their utilities when it comes to renewable energy. Evergy is forging ahead anyway.

by Jeff St. John

Opening the Lid on Xcel Energy’s Distribution Grid Plans in Minnesota

GTM Squared

Opening the Lid on Xcel Energy’s Distribution Grid Plans in Minnesota

In contrast to states like California, Xcel has the luxury of taking a “measured approach” to rethinking its grid for solar and batteries.

by Jeff St. John | December 5, 2019

12.05.19 Energy 10

Gov. Polis on stage Wednesday at GTM's Energy Storage Summit. (Credit: Anna Conklin)

Gov. Polis on Colorado’s Quest for a Clean Grid, and Where Storage Fits In

Colorado’s governor wants 100 percent renewables. Xcel Energy is going “carbon-free.” Does the distinction matter?

by Julian Spector, Emma Foehringer Merchant

09.18.19 Energy 20

Duke Energy Vows to Eliminate Its Carbon Emissions by 2050

The utility will lean heavily on gas and renewables in the medium term. Beyond 2030, big questions remain.

by Jeff St. John

Inside the Earnings of the Utilities Making the Switch to Clean Energy

GTM Squared

Inside the Earnings of the Utilities Making the Switch to Clean Energy

A growing number of U.S. states are adopting 100 percent clean energy targets. Many big utilities are moving even faster.

by Emma Foehringer Merchant | August 12, 2019

05.20.19 Regulation & Policy 17

Xcel Energy Fast-Forwards Minnesota Coal Plant Closures but Extends Nuclear Window

The utility struck a deal with environmental and labor groups in the Upper Midwest that will allow it to reduce its carbon emissions while easing job losses related to coal plant retirements.

by Jeff St. John

03.27.19 Utilities 3

Xcel CEO on Tech to Achieve Carbon-Free Electricity by 2050: ‘We’ve Got to Be Open to Anything’

Xcel Chairman, President and CEO Ben Fowke sees a role for nuclear in a zero-carbon future.

by Julian Spector

03.25.19 Fossil Fuels 16

The bill is predicated on the fact that existing fossil power plants can’t compete with other resources on cost.

Colorado May Have a Winning Formula for Managing Early Coal Plant Retirements

Under legislation pending in Colorado, utilities could issue ratepayer-backed bonds to reduce the cost of retiring aging power plants and fund transition assistance.

by Justin Gerdes

2018 in Energy Storage: Inching Toward Greatness

GTM Squared

2018 in Energy Storage: Inching Toward Greatness

The enduring accomplishments, lousy misses and unexpected breakthroughs of 2018.

by Julian Spector | December 21, 2018

12.07.18 Utilities 1

Substituting “steel,” in the form of new wind and solar generation, for “fuel,

Industry Perspective

Steel for Fuel: How Utilities Can Replace Fossil Fuel Expenses With Renewables Earning Potential

The “steel for fuel” strategy is an increasingly appealing method for hitting the sweet spot on risk, return and scale for utility customers and investors.

by Ron Lehr and Mike O'Boyle

12.04.18 Utilities 14

Xcel Energy Commits to 100% Carbon-Free Electricity by 2050

The utility’s ambitious plan could pre-empt a messy policy battle over renewable energy mandates.

by Julia Pyper

How Cheap and Abundant Can Clean Power Get?

Climate Fintech Startup Atmos Financial Puts Savings to Work for Clean Energy

Could Chile’s Auction Help Save CSP From Oblivion?

What the Coming Wave of Distributed Energy Resources Means for the US Grid

Extreme Weather Keeps Maxing Out the Grid

A Wartime Plan for Electrifying America

An Island’s Path to 100% Renewables

Greentech Media Chronicled Clean Energy Before It Was Cool

Are Batteries at a Turning Point?

Vestas Ventures Makes First Investment With Stake in Wooden Tower Start-Up

Vestas Launches World’s Largest Turbines as 'Big 3' Competition Ramps Up

BP, RWE and EnBW Win Big in UK Offshore Wind Leasing Round

How Cheap and Abundant Can Clean Power Get?

Climate Fintech Startup Atmos Financial Puts Savings to Work for Clean Energy

Could Chile’s Auction Help Save CSP From Oblivion?

Xcel Energy

Getting the Rates Right for a Public EV Charging Build-Out

Growing Energy Markets: Southwest Power Pool Expands Day-Ahead Trading to the West

New Report Shows Gap Between Utility Carbon Pledges and Climate Change Imperatives

US Voluntary Clean Power Sales Keep Surging, With More Than a Little Help From Utilities

Looking for Fixes to What Broke the Texas Power Grid

Hawaii’s Bold Step Into Utility Performance-Based Ratemaking

Solar Will Be Cheapest Form of Electricity Across US by 2030, Plus Other PV Trends

Xcel Targets $1.4B in Wind and Solar Investments, Outlines Broader Carbon-Reduction Goals

Ameren Sets Goal of Net-Zero by 2050, Plots Major Wind and Solar Expansion in Midwest

‘Math Doesn’t Yet Add Up’ for Utility Decarbonization Goals: Deloitte

The 5 Biggest US Utilities Committing to Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050

Wisconsin Utility Alliant Energy Pledges Net-Zero Carbon by 2050

2 More Western Utilities Move to Close Coal Plants Early, Shifting to Renewables and Storage

5 Key Clean Energy Projects That Barreled Through the Coronavirus Lockdowns

Southern Company Commits to Net-Zero Carbon by 2050, but Seeks New Gas Plants for Now

Wisconsin Has 150MW of Solar. Alliant Just Bought 675MW More

Best of the Rest: 4 Emerging State Energy Storage Markets to Watch

Midwestern Utility Evergy Pledges Carbon Cuts in Line With Paris Accord

Opening the Lid on Xcel Energy’s Distribution Grid Plans in Minnesota

Gov. Polis on Colorado’s Quest for a Clean Grid, and Where Storage Fits In

Duke Energy Vows to Eliminate Its Carbon Emissions by 2050

Inside the Earnings of the Utilities Making the Switch to Clean Energy

Xcel Energy Fast-Forwards Minnesota Coal Plant Closures but Extends Nuclear Window

Xcel CEO on Tech to Achieve Carbon-Free Electricity by 2050: ‘We’ve Got to Be Open to Anything’

Colorado May Have a Winning Formula for Managing Early Coal Plant Retirements

2018 in Energy Storage: Inching Toward Greatness

Steel for Fuel: How Utilities Can Replace Fossil Fuel Expenses With Renewables Earning Potential

Xcel Energy Commits to 100% Carbon-Free Electricity by 2050