The Latest
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CenterPoint to energize 8 GW of data center load by 2029
Houston is now “firmly established as a location of choice for some of the world's largest hyperscalers,” CenterPoint CEO Jason Wells said in the company’s first quarter earnings call.
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shutterstock.com/Kewiko
Sponsored by OracleThe single-platform utility: A competitive advantage in the age of AI
Many utilities still run different technological worlds without a common platform and data foundation. Learn how a single platform can increase business speed while reducing risks and costs.
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GE Vernova gas turbine backlog hits 100 GW as prices rise
“The dollar-per-kilowatt growth is going to be very healthy in the second quarter of this year,” CEO Scott Strazik said of turbine sales. The company also saw big jumps in orders for grid and wind power equipment.
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Opinion
In New Jersey, we’re leading by example, tackling energy affordability head-on
Christine Guhl-Sadovy, president of the Board of Public Utilities, says the BPU is expediting solar and storage while advocating for structural market and cost recovery reforms at the state, regional and federal levels.
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What does Trump’s wartime powers flex mean for transformers and other grid equipment shortages?
Spencer Pederson of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association told Utility Dive the move was a “step in the right direction,” but its impact will depend on details and funding. In the meantime, distribution transformer backlogs are running a year or more.
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Kentucky utilities eye 266-MW pumped storage project as demand drives renewed interest
Two PPL utilities — Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities — are studying the project. But at about $4.9 million/MW, it doesn’t appear viable without a data center hyperscaler willing to pay for it, Jefferies analysts said.
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Base Power partnership to mitigate price spikes, load peaks for South Texas co-op, CEO says
The 50-MW distributed battery deployment could check Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative’s power costs, CEO Darren Schauer told Utility Dive.
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Court curtails Trump administration moves to stifle wind, solar development
The preliminary injunction will go into effect while litigation plays out over a series of federal actions that have blocked or delayed renewable energy projects.
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Virginia public power providers embrace megawatt-scale, distribution-connected batteries
Deploying multiple small batteries — in this case, five projects of 5 MW each — is faster and cheaper than transmission-connected projects and provides many of the benefits of a virtual power plant, the developer told Utility Dive.
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Sudden data center load losses prompt NERC alert, recommendations
The reliability watchdog is concerned about a series of “widespread and unexpected” customer-initiated load reductions in 2024 and 2025 during which 1,000 MW or more dropped off the bulk power system.
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Opinion
Alaska’s energy challenges require a national response
Alaska energy modernization should be treated as a national infrastructure priority, writes Northwest Public Power Association CEO Kurt Miller.
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New England states urge FERC to advance $1.5B in ratepayer refunds
Governors and utility regulators asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to dismiss a request by Eversource and Avangrid to stay the refund order while a court weighs an appeal. The dispute has already spawned 15 years of litigation.
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Retrieved from U.S. Department of Energy.
OpinionMinnesota got one thing right on distributed storage — but it missed the bigger opportunity
Xcel Energy’s 200-MW, ratepayer-funded battery pilot is not the right model to encourage broad adoption, writes Coalition for Community Solar Access CEO Jeff Cramer.
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Rivian, Redwood Materials announce energy storage partnership
The EV maker’s second-life battery packs will be integrated into an energy system for its Illinois assembly plant.
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MISO expects load to jump 35% by 2035 on data center growth
However, data center development plans "widen uncertainty" in the long-term outlook, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator cautioned. Utilities need more dynamic planning models to cope, Stephanie Chesnick Cutter of EY told Utility Dive.
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Opinion
La Plata Electric CEO: Why Western utilities are moving toward regional markets
Following its transition into the Southwest Power Pool, LPEA expects an immediate reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of roughly 20%, along with reduced wholesale power costs, writes Chris Hansen.
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Fleet managers not sold on EVs, but they’re getting there: survey
Insufficient options for larger trucks and nervousness about range and charging options are holding back adoption, says EV services company Mitra. About a third of states have adopted zero-emission fleet requirements, including some for private organizations.
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Retrieved from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
FERC tees up June decision on data center interconnection reform
Other open meeting takeaways: Chairman Swett is “perplexed” on PJM backstop auction, the agency rejected a renewable developer’s $44-million waiver request, and zombie dockets die.
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US renewable power purchase agreements reach record prices: LevelTen
Industry analysts say the Iran war and impending tax credit expiration have not yet played a major role in rising power purchase agreement prices.
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PECO withdraws $510M in rate hike proposals over affordability concerns
“We recognize that Pennsylvanians are struggling with basic necessities like gas, food, and energy and have decided to withdraw our proposal,” said David Vahos, president and CEO of the Exelon subsidiary.
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Congress presses DOE’s Wright on Energy Star, permitting reform
Energy Secretary Chris Wright didn’t offer plans for DOE’s full takeover of the Energy Star program. He agreed to work with Congress on methane rules and permitting reform.
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FERC orders American Efficient to pay $1.1B for ‘brazen fraud’
“American Efficient’s years-long fraud profoundly disrupted the organized capacity markets and ultimately increased costs for ordinary Americans,” FERC Chairman Laura Swett said.
Updated April 17, 2026 -
Opinion
After 2 years, ratepayer pain and political fallout from Georgia’s nuclear plant Vogtle
Texas built 36 GW of solar and storage in four years, for about $36 billion. Georgia built 2 GW of nuclear in 15 years at the same cost, writes Patty Durand, founder of Georgians for Affordable Energy.
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ERCOT says Texas demand could quadruple but cautions forecast may be inflated
The forecast is “preliminary,” said grid officials, who may request changes to the analysis. It is based on ERCOT forecasting, as well as utilities working directly with large load customers.
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Colorado legislature sends ‘advanced transmission technology’ bill to governor
The bill requires Xcel Energy, Black Hills and Tri-State to assess the potential for grid-enhancing technologies to bolster the bulk power system, reduce wildfires and increase interstate power flows. Other states are following suit.
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Suniva announces 4.5-GW solar cell facility in South Carolina
Expanding U.S. solar cell manufacturing capacity targets an “important bottleneck," Keith Adams, Deloitte’s U.S. renewable energy leader, said in an email to Utility Dive.