AI data center growth could force US utilities to rethink generation plans, BofA says

Bank of America analysts project data center demand will outpace planned utility capacity additions by more than 100 GW through 2030, increasing reliance on on-site gas generation and battery storage.

By Marlene Wilden • July 17, 2026

PJM capacity auction results compound ‘alarm bells’: FERC Chairman Swett

At its monthly meeting, FERC set data center reliability standard deadlines, ordered CAISO and SPP to report on “seams” issues and advanced a complaint over cost recovery for a New Jersey power line.

By Ethan Howland • July 17, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Data Centers and the US Grid

A look at how data centers are affecting the U.S. grid today and how new technologies and rate structures could affect that trajectory in the years to come.

By Utility Dive staff

Renewables remain cheapest, but their LCOE is rising: Lazard

Utility-scale solar’s levelized cost of electricity ranges between $40/MWh and $98/MWh, while combined cycle gas ranges between $51/MWh and $129/MWh, said a report from Lazard.

By Diana DiGangi • July 16, 2026

Google inks deal for massive Arkansas solar and storage project

With a target completion date of 2029, the project is expected to deliver 2.5 GW of generation and 2.9 GWh of battery storage to the regional grid, the tech giant said.

By Lamar Johnson • July 16, 2026

Indiana regulators investigate utility ROEs, ‘trackers’ in affordability review

AES, American Electric Power, CenterPoint Energy, Duke Energy and NiSource could be affected under a “more consumer-oriented utility commission policy,” Paul Patterson, a Glenrock Associates equity analyst, told Utility Dive.

By Ethan Howland • July 16, 2026

PJM capacity prices hit price cap, reserve shortfall grows

“The outcome demonstrates that the current system doesn’t work to bring online new capacity or stimulate demand response, the two things we need the most,” Aurora Energy’s Julia Hoos told Utility Dive, warning of “an intervention doom loop.”

By Ethan Howland • July 15, 2026

Every customer you can’t enroll is a kilowatt you can’t dispatch

Flexibility's grid value is proven. The real constraint now is how many customers you can enroll.

July 13, 2026

PJM status quo ‘untenable’: FERC Commissioner LaCerte

“Looking at things differently is hard, especially in entrenched utilities that have been doing this for a long time,” the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission member said.

By Ethan Howland • July 9, 2026

IRA clean energy gains mostly on track despite OBBBA, says MIT study

74% of all new clean electricity capacity that would have been added under the Inflation Reduction Act will be preserved despite Trump administration policy changes, the report estimates, including 82% of utility-scale solar generation.

By Diana DiGangi • July 8, 2026

New Jersey increases transmission oversight in ‘affordability’ push

New Jersey’s governor signed bills that aim to cut transmission owners’ return on equity, establish data center tariffs and require state approval for “supplementary” transmission projects.

By Ethan Howland • July 8, 2026

US wholesale power prices to decline 8% this summer: EIA

But forecasted extreme heat is likely to eliminate any break for families. “I am not expecting consumers to get much of a price savings this summer,” NEADA Executive Director Mark Wolfe told Utility Dive.

By Robert Walton • July 8, 2026

The PJM market is working — don’t mistake progress for failure

Energy stakeholders should be focused on how to strengthen competitive markets, not abandon them, writes Todd Snitchler, president and CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association.

By Todd Snitchler • July 7, 2026

Walmart signs nuclear PPA with Constellation to support Illinois operations

The companies said the deal marks Walmart’s first nuclear power purchase agreement and is “among the first of its kind between a large retailer and a nuclear energy facility in the United States.”

By Lamar Johnson • July 7, 2026

APS to convert retired coal units, adding 380 MW of natural gas

“Given Arizona’s increasing demand for around-the-clock energy and the long timelines for adding new generation, the conversion has proven to be a viable option,” APS said.

By Diana DiGangi • July 6, 2026

FERC denies waiver for $2B gas-fired plant in PJM’s fast-track review

Giving Advanced Power Services a waiver from the PJM Interconnection’s rules could harm other project developers, the agency said.

By Ethan Howland • July 6, 2026

PJM stakeholders advance data center backstop procurement plan

The PJM Interconnection’s board expects to file a proposal for meeting its near-term power supply needs with federal regulators this month, with a goal of holding the backstop auction in September.

By Ethan Howland • July 2, 2026

Why the true cost of new gas plants is much higher than the sticker price

When reviewing gas-fired power plant proposals, regulators often fail to consider pipeline, fuel and storage costs, which can add about 30% to a project’s total cost, GridLab’s Cassady Craighill writes.

By Cassady Craighill • July 2, 2026

Sen. King urges FERC to reject $67B NextEra-Dominion merger

NextEra Energy’s efforts to kill the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project is a sign of how the combined utility could stifle competition and harm consumers, the Maine senator said.

By Ethan Howland • June 30, 2026

PJM opposes waiver for $2B gas-fired plant in fast-track interconnection review

Gas turbine backlogs prompted Advanced Power Services to seek changes to its project in PJM’s fast-track Reliability Resource Initiative interconnection review, but the grid operator said granting such a waiver would be unfair to other developers.

By Ethan Howland • Updated June 30, 2026

Data centers are ready to negotiate flexibility for speed

Hyperscalers want their data centers online and utilities want to provide interconnections, but experts say both are still looking for common operating guidelines.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 26, 2026

445 GW — mainly solar, storage — to come online by 2030 as demand growth surges: ICF

PJM and ERCOT have no spare capacity for demand growth beyond 2027, the consulting firm said. Demand response and GETs can help meet an expected 39% jump in U.S. electric use by 2035, it suggests.

By Ethan Howland • June 26, 2026

DOE emergency orders are incurring additional costs. What are the benefits?

Some of the generating units have operated during tight grid conditions and may have contributed to reliability. Keeping them running costs about $550 million a year, the Sierra Club says.

By Ethan Howland • June 25, 2026

Deployable reserves shrinking as coal, gas forced outage rates rise: NERC

Coal and gas generation saw a respective 39.8 TWh and 19.1 TWh increase in unavailable energy in 2025, said the North American Electric Reliability Corp.

By Diana DiGangi • June 25, 2026

DOE offers $17.5B in loans to help build 10 large nuclear reactors

Dominion Energy, DTE Energy, WEC Energy Group, Public Service Enterprise Group and Entergy Corp. are among the utilities positioned to benefit, according to Capstone.

By Robert Walton • June 24, 2026

Grid operators making ‘significant progress’ on generator interconnection reform: AEU

However, there isn’t yet evidence that interconnection requests are being processed more quickly, according to Advanced Energy United.

By Ethan Howland • June 24, 2026