DOE cancels $700 million in battery and manufacturing project grants

A DOE spokesperson said the projects had missed milestones and would not provide a positive return on investment of taxpayer dollars.

NorthWestern plans ‘large load’ tariff for Montana data centers

Advocates say the utility plans to serve at least three data centers that could scale up to a load of 2,250 MW — nearly twice its current peak. NorthWestern said it is in talks with potential data center customers but has no agreements.

ISO New England launches cluster study of 26 battery, wind and solar projects

The projects have a combined summer rated capacity of about 8 GW. The transitional cluster study is the first under a new review framework and is expected to be completed in August 2026.

Utility identity fraud is a bigger problem than people think

Stolen and synthetic identities are flowing through utility systems not just for free electricity or gas, but to fuel broader schemes that ripple across the financial sector, writes David Maimon, head of fraud insights at SentiLink.

Residential electricity prices surge ahead of C&I rates: Berkeley Lab

State behind-the-meter policies and renewable portfolio standards appear to increase electricity prices, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researchers said.

As cyber threats grow, utilities say lapsed information-sharing law stymies security

The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 has expired, and utilities say the U.S. faces a “more complex and dangerous security environment” as a result.

Portland General Electric invests in AI-powered flexibility to speed data center connection

The utility is working with startup GridCARE to help data centers plug into transmission-constrained grids without waiting for new infrastructure, executives said.

State AGs probe Big Tech’s use of renewable energy certificates

Republican attorneys general from 16 states sent letters to Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft last month questioning claims the companies had made about their energy consumption and emissions reductions.

To keep power affordable, regulators must rethink who pays — and when

A growing body of evidence shows that widespread residential electrification can actually reduce average rates, but only under the right conditions, write Becky Li and Joe Daniel of RMI. 

DOE releases nuclear fusion road map, aiming for deployment in 2030s

“The exceptional materials degradation caused by large quantities of fusion neutrons is one of the single largest factors limiting the economics and safety of fusion energy,” DOE said.

FERC orders MISO to clarify how merchant projects will be included in transmission planning

Also, the agency aims to issue a colocation decision this year while its staffing has plunged 11%, FERC Chairman David Rosner said Thursday at an open meeting.

The week in 5 numbers: DOE backs transmission, Amazon’s dozen nuclear reactors

Plus a group of solar projects in Nevada face uncertainty and California funds offshore wind.

Washington nuclear facility will deploy 12 Amazon-funded SMRs

The plant’s three 320-MW sections will together comprise a 960-MW plant within the space of a few city blocks, Amazon said.

States sue EPA over canceled Solar for All grants

In the third lawsuit filed about the grants this month, 22 states and the District of Columbia contend the agency illegally revoked $7 billion in clean energy funds awarded to local governments.

It’s all one system: Integrate transmission and interconnection planning to support load growth

Maintaining disparate planning processes for the wires needed to deliver power increases costs and delays, writes FERC Commissioner Judy Chang.

Torch Clean Energy taps Fluence for 640 MWh battery at Arizona solar plant

Torch’s “Winchester” project will have 160 MW of solar and is expected to be online in 2027 to support regional grid balancing and forecast load growth, the company said.

A customer-centric vision for meeting future demand growth

As data center growth pressures the electric grid, customer relationships will be critical for utilities, write Nathan Shannon of the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative and Sharon Talbott of Salesforce.

California delays rulemaking timeline for climate disclosure laws to 2026

The state said the delay was due to the “large volume of public comments” it received. Many utilities were included on a “preliminary” list of covered entities published last month.

Updated Oct. 15, 2025

21 Democratic House members press PJM for interconnection reforms

The lawmakers called on the PJM Interconnection to bolster rules for energy storage and grid-enhancing technologies while considering options such as “connect and manage.”

DOE closes $1.6B loan commitment for AEP transmission rebuild

The loan guarantee will help an American Electric Power subsidiary rebuild around 5,000 miles of transmission lines across Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma and West Virginia.

PJM customers will benefit from cooperation, not conflict, within the electric industry

Distribution utilities and generators in the PJM region have come to blows over a potential generation shortage, writes Terry Fitzpatrick, a former chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

Honeywell to supply new power solutions for data centers

Working with industrial automation firm LS Electric, Honeywell will offer AI-driven power management solutions, including battery energy storage systems, to help meet the sector’s energy demand.

VPP Convergence Project aims to educate states on virtual power plants

Tesla, Sunrun, Leap, Voltus and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners are involved in the effort.

PJM’s market monitor urges FERC to review Amazon data center’s effect on costs, reliability

The issue centers on an unprecedented agreement between PECO Energy and Amazon Data Services that aims to protect utility customers from costs related to a planned data center complex in Pennsylvania.

PJM Interconnection needs 43 GW of energy storage by 2045: Brattle Group

A report commissioned by the U.S. Energy Storage Coalition said North America’s largest grid operator needs to rapidly build storage to ensure reliability and mitigate cost increases amid a surge in electricity demand.