Gas-fired generation likely needed to maintain reliability for years: SPP, Black Hills

“We've got to have something else to keep the lights on … and right now, the best option that we have for generation over the next several years looks like it's natural gas,” SPP’s Bruce Rew said.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 13, 2024

Gas-fired generation for data centers offers bridge to net-negative carbon future: MISO’s Moeller

Regulatory structures are designed to prevent rapid buildouts — partly in response to previous power sector overbuilds — but “suddenly we need to go fast,” MISO President and CEO Clair Moeller said.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 12, 2024

Explore the Trendline➔

Electricity Supply and Demand

After nearly two decades of flat demand, U.S. electricity consumption reached an all-time high in 2024 and is expected to continue rising. This trendline brings together the best of Utility Dive’s coverage of emerging trends in supply and demand and the decisions being made today that will impact the power system for years to come. 

By Utility Dive staff

Trump taps former Rep. Lee Zeldin to lead EPA

The Trump administration will likely roll back EPA regulations affecting fossil-fuel power plants, including a carbon emissions rule, according to Michelle Bloodworth, president and CEO of America’s Power.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 12, 2024

FERC’s Talen Energy-Amazon decision unlikely to impact NuScale data center plans: CEO

NuScale also expects its application before the NRC to uprate its reactor design from 50 MW to 77 MW to conclude by mid-2025, CEO John Hopkins noted during Thursday’s Q3 earnings call.

By Brian Martucci • Nov. 11, 2024

FERC approves 6-month delay to PJM’s next 3 capacity auctions

The delay stems from a complaint alleging that PJM’s rules do not account for the impacts of reliability must-run power plants in the grid operator’s capacity auctions.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 11, 2024

Trump win is ‘setback’ for climate protection, but clean energy advocates say progress will continue

Trump’s victory means a Republican will be selected to lead FERC, which will likely work to rein in transmission incentives, said Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen's Energy Program.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 6, 2024

FERC’s AWS, Talen Energy ruling ‘not the final word’ on nuclear, data center colocation: Constellation CEO

The company’s “foot is on the accelerator” to close data center deals as it works to restart Three Mile Island Unit 1 by 2027, CEO Joe Dominguez said on its third-quarter earnings call Monday.

By Brian Martucci • Nov. 5, 2024

AEP, others press for FERC guidance on ‘gargantuan’ issue of data center colocation

Google is interested in colocation to meet its data center needs, not to avoid grid costs, said Brian George, the company's U.S. federal lead for global energy market development.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 4, 2024

FERC rejects interconnection pact for Talen-Amazon data center deal at nuclear plant

Chairman Willie Phillips dissented from the decision on the “first of its kind” co-location proposal, saying it could harm national security and grid reliability.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 4, 2024

States should procure power supplies outside PJM capacity auctions: FirstEnergy CEO

Capacity concerns come amid a surge in data center development, with FirstEnergy receiving more than 60 service inquiries larger than 500 MW this year.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 31, 2024

Exelon’s ‘high probability’ data center load has nearly doubled to 11 GW, CEO says

Meanwhile, the PJM Interconnection’s plan to delay an upcoming capacity auction “sends a clear message that [market] reform is definitely needed,” CEO Calvin Butler said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 31, 2024

5 governors call for PJM capacity market rule changes to reduce ‘unnecessary’ consumer costs

LS Power has identified 4.4 GW in potential capacity and storage projects in PJM totaling $8 billion but said unstable market rules hinder investment decisions. 

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 28, 2024

APS, Duke, other utilities pursue new climate resilience strategies as some await upcoming tools

APS and Duke, along with Central Hudson Gas & Electric, PacifiCorp and Puget Sound Energy, see different paths to reach resilience planning’s potential while awaiting EPRI metrics to address uncertainties.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 28, 2024

NRC removes ‘quantitative health objectives’ from proposed advanced reactor licensing rules

The change will “create a more flexible regulatory framework where applicants could show they meet the intent of complete evaluation of plant safety without having to use a specific set of tools,” an industry analyst said.

By Brian Martucci • Oct. 25, 2024

NextEra CEO ‘not bullish’ on SMRs as company assesses potential Duane Arnold restart

“There are only a few nuclear plants that can be recommissioned in an economic way,” and newer technologies like small modular reactors remain financially infeasible, CEO John Ketchum said.

By Emma Penrod • Oct. 24, 2024

Power plant owners back PJM capacity auction delay but warn of waning investor confidence

FirstEnergy told FERC it may be time to adopt policies that drive responsibility for developing dispatchable resources back to the states.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 23, 2024

AI, data center load could drive ‘extraordinary’ rise in US electricity bills: Bain analyst

Utility revenue requirements to serve growing data center electricity demand could increase customer bills by 1% annually through 2032, according to Bain & Company.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 23, 2024

With Palisades and Three Mile Island units set to restart, could more retired reactors follow?

Much depends on the retired plants’ condition, decommissioning status and reactor technology, experts say.

By Brian Martucci • Oct. 22, 2024

PJM floats options for fast-track interconnection for shovel-ready projects

The plan may face challenges at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and in courts for giving a preference to certain generating projects, some PJM stakeholders said.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Oct. 21, 2024

FERC bars payments for ‘deadband’ reactive power, plus 4 other open meeting takeaways

Renewable energy trade groups, Public Service Enterprise Group and other generators opposed the agency’s decision on reactive power.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 18, 2024

DOE opens applications for up to $900M to support small modular reactor deployment

Interest in nuclear energy is resurgent, and DOE said it wants to establish “a credible and sustainable pathway” to deploying Gen III+ SMRs across the country.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 17, 2024

Supreme Court rejects calls to put a hold on EPA power plant carbon rule

Utilities asking the court to stay the rule included American Electric Power, Duke Energy, MidAmerican Energy, PacifiCorp and Southern Co.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 17, 2024

Amazon announces small modular reactor deals with Dominion, X-energy, Energy Northwest

The digital retail and web services company led a $500 million investment in X-energy and will support the development of more than 600 MW of SMR capacity in Washington and Virginia.

By Brian Martucci • Oct. 16, 2024

Dominion unveils plans to add 21 GW of clean energy, 5.9 GW of gas generation by 2039

The company plans to deploy about 3.4 GW of new offshore wind in addition to the 2.6 GW already in development, about 12 GW of new solar, and about 4.5 GW of new battery storage.

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 16, 2024

Possible PJM market changes could lower near-term capacity prices: Morgan Stanley

A planned delay in the grid operator’s upcoming capacity auction could spark greater demand for behind-the-meter deals between data centers and nuclear power plants, Morgan Stanley analysts said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 15, 2024