Generation


  • People warm up by a barbecue grill.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Go Nakamura via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    Reliability risk isn’t just about capacity anymore

    Winter Storm Fern showed that the integration of flexible resources paired with improved weatherization and better market structures can materially reduce risk during extreme weather, writes Tapas Peshin of PCI Energy Solutions.

    By Tapas Peshin • March 6, 2026
  • Tilt shot of Two steaming cooling towers for nuclear power against blue sky.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    AI is outpacing America’s power grid. Nuclear must become a national priority.

    Nuclear power can scale with the needs of AI, writes Amentum’s Mark Whitney. Companies and communities relying on renewables will risk outages, higher costs and missed opportunities.

    By Mark Whitney • March 5, 2026
  • Service technicians work to install transmission towers. Explore the Trendline
    Image attribution tooltip
    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Trendline

    Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

    Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

    By Utility Dive staff
  • Boats are moored on a river with a power plant's smokestacks in the background.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Mark Wilson via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    PJM market monitor opposes Maryland power plant sale to data center company

    TeraWulf’s plan to buy a power plant from GenOn faces opposition at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as hyperscalers at White House meeting pledge to bring their own generation.

    By March 5, 2026
  • Bill Gates speaks onstage at a summit.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Bennett Raglin via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    NRC approves construction of advanced nuclear reactor in Wyoming

    The construction permit to a subsidiary of Bill Gates’ TerraPower for a 345-MW commercial nuclear power plant project is the NRC’s first commercial reactor construction approval in nearly 10 years.

    By March 5, 2026
  • An aerial view of a coal-fired power plant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Pete Forsyth is licensed under CC BY 3.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    Coal plant DOE ordered to stay online unlikely to run given ‘flush’ power supplies: CEO

    The Department of Energy claimed “emergency” conditions in the Pacific Northwest required TransAlta to continue running Washington’s last coal plant past its planned retirement. The company plans to convert it to run on gas.

    By March 4, 2026
  • Gas turbine electric power plant in blue hour.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    The physics of reliability: Why gas peakers alone can’t save the modern grid

    Most outages don’t start as a multihour energy shortage; they start as a frequency crisis. If you only have gas, you’re trying to stop a bullet with a shield that takes 10 minutes to lift, writes Arun Muthukrishnan from Arevon Energy.

    By Arun Muthukrishnan • March 3, 2026
  • Production of copper wire, cable in reels at factory
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Tariffs drove construction input prices up to start 2026

    January’s cost increases amounted to a “blistering” annualized rate of 7.1% for nonresidential input prices, according to Associated Builders and Contractors. Copper was up 80% year over year, iron and steel 58% and switchgear 67%.

    By Sebastian Obando • March 3, 2026
  • A large-scale solar and battery Storage facility
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Dominion Energy
    Image attribution tooltip

    Virginia, Indiana lawmakers pass surplus interconnection bills

    Using existing surplus interconnection, such as at rarely-used peaker plants, can get generation and storage resources online faster and more cheaply than seeking new interconnection rights. PJM lags behind other grid operators in pursuing this. 

    By Updated March 3, 2026
  • An aerial view of an electrical substation.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    PJM proposes fast-track interconnection plan, capacity auction price collar

    The PJM Interconnection says it is taking steps to bring new generation online as fast as possible while protecting ratepayers from high capacity prices.

    By March 2, 2026
  • Steam billows from a cement cooling tower next to a power plant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Peretzp is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    PSEG sees investment opportunity as NJ eyes adding in-state generation

    A bill was introduced this week in the New Jersey Legislature that would require a solicitation for gas-fired generation.

    By Feb. 27, 2026
  • An electric power line crosses a field.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    More interregional transmission could save consumers billions: study

    However, East Coast generators would see reduced revenue, giving them an incentive to oppose new transmission lines, researchers said.

    By Feb. 26, 2026
  • Plumes of steam emerge from a power plant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by James Watt is licensed under CC BY 1.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    NRG has ‘zero interest’ in speculative new capacity build: CEO

    “We are not going to do anything that doesn't meet our unlevered [12-15%] hurdle rate that we've announced, full stop,” said CEO Larry Coben.

    By Feb. 25, 2026
  • A nuclear power plant sits on an island in a river.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Constellation Energy sees surging power, capacity prices in 2025

    Average day-ahead electricity prices in the PJM West region, for example, jumped 49% in 2025, Constellation Energy said in its earnings report.

    By Feb. 25, 2026
  • Three sets of transmission lines run into the distance where steam billows from a cylindrical, cement structure.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Georgia Power
    Image attribution tooltip

    DOE loans Southern $26.5B for 5 GW of new gas, other grid investments

    Calling it the largest loan in the agency’s history, DOE said it aims to deliver over $7 billion in cost savings for Georgia Power and Alabama Power customers.

    By Feb. 25, 2026
  • High voltage power lines in the winter.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    The New England grid passed one winter test, but market reforms are still needed

    Constructive collaboration across business and government should be celebrated while the region works to fine-tune its market to sustain existing investments and drive new ones, writes NEPGA President Dan Dolan.

    By Dan Dolan • Feb. 25, 2026
  • A utility crew stands near a truck.
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Jason Kuffer is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    ConEd eyes $38B in capital spending through 2030

    The downstate New York utility company sees robust demand growth from electric vehicles and buildings amid heightened reliability challenges and affordability concerns.

    By Brian Martucci • Feb. 24, 2026
  • A brightly lit power plant next to a road.
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Chad Davis is licensed under CC BY 2.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    Entergy Texas seeks gas generation to meet 1 GW of new demand

    The utility issued a request for proposals seeking gas-fired resources capable of being online by 2032 to meet “significant industrial and residential growth.”

    By Feb. 24, 2026
  • Industrial equipment sits inside a building.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    PJM proposes behind-the-meter reforms in data center colocation effort

    The planned reform threatens the economic viability of new combined heat and power generation at industrial facilities in the PJM Interconnection, according to trade groups.

    By Feb. 24, 2026
  • Smoke seen coming out of a power plant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Mark Wilson via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    The false promise of cheap and reliable coal

    Colorado’s youngest coal-fired generating unit will not produce power, or savings, anytime soon. The problems with Comanche Unit 3 highlight the hazards of relying on coal, write clean energy advocates Anna Adamsson and Leslie Glustrom.

    By Anna Adamsson and Leslie Glustrom • Feb. 24, 2026
  • A Mitsubishi Power M501JAC combustion turbine is delivered to Georgia Power's Plant Yates.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Georgia Power/Mitsubishi Power
    Image attribution tooltip

    Natural gas equipment bottleneck is easing: Jefferies

    “We expect at least 19 GW of total available equipment capacity by 2028, increasing to 49 [GW] and 76 GW by 2029 and 2030,” Jefferies said.

    By Feb. 24, 2026
  • The U.S. Supreme Court in the District of Columbia.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    What the Supreme Court tariff ruling means for construction

    The court decision could drive a modest reduction in price escalation for electrical systems and fixtures, but materials-specific tariffs on steel, aluminum and copper products remain in place, experts said. 

    By Sebastian Obando • Feb. 23, 2026
  • Aerial view of data centers in Ashburn, Virginia.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    The electricity paradox: Driving affordability means infrastructure investment

    Energy abundance, AI competitiveness and consumer affordability are not in conflict, but the power sector needs to show that growth can lower bills, not raise them, write Ray Gifford and Matt Larson from Wilkinson Barker Knauer. 

    By Ray Gifford and Matt Larson • Feb. 23, 2026
  • A utility truck near a downed power line.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    PPL spending plan jumps 15%, to $23B, on transmission, grid hardening

    A PPL-Blackstone Infrastructure joint venture is in talks with hyperscalers to supply their data centers with generation, including options that could be built quickly, a company official said.

    By Feb. 23, 2026
  • An aerial view of a large building.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Panasonic Corp.
    Image attribution tooltip

    Evergy’s capital spending plan jumps 24%, to $21.6B, driven by generation

    Evergy this month signed electric service contracts totaling 1.9 GW with Google, Meta and Beale Infrastructure, with at least one more contract expected this year, company officials said.

    By Feb. 20, 2026
  • A gray white and data center seen next to power lines against a twilight sky.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Diana DiGangi/Utility Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    As load grows, Southern raises spending plan to $81B

    The utility company’s large load pipeline now sits at 75 GW, with 10 GW fully contracted.

    By Feb. 20, 2026