$3.1B annual cost estimated for fossil fuel plants DOE won’t allow to retire

One coal plant owner told the SEC it spent $29 million in the first 38 days of an Energy Department order to keep it online.

Updated Aug. 18, 2025

FERC paved the way for smart grid solutions. States must take the next step.

Grid planners can quickly squeeze more out of existing assets using grid-enhancing technology. State regulators should evaluate these options for local upgrades and longer-term regional planning.

Heat pump adoption expected to grow despite federal shift

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act accelerates a move toward affordability, ease of installation and retrofit readiness, according to one manufacturer.

New Jersey delays JCP&L offshore wind transmission project by 30 months

The Trump administration has moved to slow or halt the development of renewables, including New Jersey's first offshore wind project, the 1.5-GW Atlantic Shores 1.

White House names Democrat Rosner to lead FERC

Agency observers expect the White House will replace Rosner once two pending Republican FERC nominees — Laura Swett and David LaCerte — are seated at the commission.

Why Texas’ backup plan is a warning sign for grid operations nationwide

We need new power lines and generators, but they won’t arrive in time to handle surging demand. What we can do now is operate smarter with software-based operational intelligence to reduce curtailment, ease congestion and lower consumer costs.

Nuveen raises $1.3B for energy and power infrastructure fund

The fund will look to capitalize on a global growing need for power. Nuveen manages more than $35 billion in infrastructure assets, including some U.S. solar and battery storage.

Duke expands demand response programs in South Carolina, citing new law, heat waves

Duke is not the only utility emphasizing efficiency and demand response as the country sets new records for energy usage and peak demand.

EPA plans to revise coal-fired power plant wastewater rules

The plan is part of a broad Trump administration effort to ease environmental rules affecting the power sector. Previously, the EPA estimated the rule would cut pollution from coal-fired power plants by more than 660 million pounds a year.

Renewable power purchase agreement prices rising in wake of One Big Beautiful Bill Act

The average price of new wind and solar power purchase agreements is up 4% since the OBBBA’s passage. Almost a third of developers surveyed said they plan to suspend or cancel projects as a result of the reconciliation bill.

DOE taps 10 advanced reactor companies for expedited nuclear pilot

Oklo and its subsidiary, Atomic Alchemy, are developing three out of the 11 projects DOE selected.

PJM launches fast-track push to set rules for adding data centers

Amid surging data center development, PJM stakeholders will explore options for adding large loads to the grid without threatening reliability. PJM aims to file a proposal at FERC by the end of the year.

Multidirectional flows of power and information are the grid’s future

In the frenzy to meet rising energy demand, utilities and others often overlook the value of power system innovations, industry participants say.

ISO-NE should make its governance transparent, accessible and accountable

With a leadership change coming in January, ISO New England has a chance to launch a new era of governance that engages with the communities it serves.

Portland General energizes 1.9 GWh of lithium batteries in major storage expansion

The Seaside, Sundial and Constable battery projects bring the Oregon utility’s large-scale storage capacity from 17 MW to 492 MW.

3 Arizona utilities set peak demand records last week

After years of stagnant demand growth, rising electricity consumption is showing up on the U.S. power grid.

US to maintain lower tariff rates on China imports for 90 more days

China also extended its suspension of additional retaliatory duties against U.S. goods, maintaining current rates until November.

Texas PUC executes $216M loan for NRG 456-MW gas plant

The loan is the second finalized under the Texas Energy Fund In-ERCOT Generation Loan Program, approved by voters in 2023. The fund has faced setbacks, with about a third of initially-approved projects canceled or withdrawn amid escalating project costs and supply chain challenges.

Allete sale would help fund clean energy investment for Minnesota

The proposed sale would inject a massive infusion of private capital into Minnesota Power, capital guided by a long-term perspective rather than short-term market pressures.

FERC’s Christie steps down, leaving agency with three members

The White House plans to name Commissioner David Rosner, a Democrat, as interim chairman, according to reports. One former FERC official speculated that the administration wants a majority that will support colocating data centers at power plants.

Sunrun battery attachment rate hits 70%, up 54% from year ago

Executives with the largest U.S. home energy systems installer said Sunrun is doubling down on energy storage and grid services to offset the loss of federal tax credits for residential solar arrays.

Oncor has 200 GW of interconnection requests, company officials say

About 20% of the potential demand has signed contracts or is considered “high-confidence load,” CEO Allen Nye said.

Managing new political risk for renewable energy projects

Clean energy developers face multiple risks from the Trump administration — but there are pathways for easing them.

Nuclear regulatory approval drives NuScale customer interest, but no deals yet

Having the only U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission-approved small modular reactor, plus broader regulatory tailwinds for nuclear energy, could help NuScale land “hard contracts” by year’s end, company executives said.

Lawmaker, AARP call for nationwide utility commission reforms to stop rising electric bills

A coalition of consumer and environmental advocates said public service commissions have become too closely aligned with utility interests. U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., reintroduced legislation this week to prohibit utility companies from using ratepayer dollars to fund political lobbying and advertising.