The week in 5 numbers: Wind and solar are what’s for dinner

In other news, the Trump administration has fired shots at “established monopolist” Duke Energy as officials test antitrust tools in power markets, and a fight over capacity auctions highlights the risk of phantom data centers.

By Meris Lutz • Dec. 5, 2025

US added 2 GW of solar in September, putting 2025 ahead of 2024 for new solar generation

Solar accounted for three-quarters of new generation installed so far this year, followed by wind at 13% and gas at 11%.

By Meris Lutz • Dec. 4, 2025

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

Google just backed carbon capture tech for data center energy providers. Will other tech giants follow?

The fast-growing electricity demands of data centers could be a game-changer for carbon capture technology in the U.S. power sector, say experts from the Payne Institute at the Colorado School of Mines.

By Anna Littlefield, Simon Lomax and Morgan Bazilian • Dec. 4, 2025

US solicitor general tells Supreme Court to reject Duke Energy antitrust appeal

“This appeal arises out of a campaign by an established monopolist to stop a more efficient rival from disturbing its long-dominant hold over a regional energy market,” U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer said.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 4, 2025

Construction costs continue to climb as prices rise for steel, copper and switchgear

Price volatility is keeping procurement unpredictable for contractors, said Macrina Wilkins, senior research analyst at Associated General Contractors of America.

By Sebastian Obando • Dec. 3, 2025

FERC urged to reject AEP waiver request for PJM capacity sale

It appears American Electric Power’s utilities want to offload capacity they acquired to serve data centers that didn’t materialize, Monitoring Analytics and the PJM Power Providers Group said.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 2, 2025

MISO begins reviewing 6.1 GW — 70% of it gas — in fast-track interconnection study

The grid operator’s Expedited Resource Addition Study process has grown to 11.2 GW, with an additional 18 GW seeking to join the initiative.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 2, 2025

Utilities, regulators look to accelerate pilots to achieve speed-to-innovation

Stakeholders say clear cost limits, timelines and parameters for scaling can overcome the inertia of a traditionally risk-averse industry.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 1, 2025

Power plants in SPP can expand up to 20% under new FERC-approved fast-track review

Developers must show that the necessary financing and equipment has been secured and that the project can be online within five years.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 1, 2025

Tariffs continue to weigh on manufacturing as PMI index shows contraction

“We do not see anything on the horizon that’s going to turn the ship until there is more certainty ... with the legality of the tariffs,” said Susan Spence, chair of the ISM’s Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.

By Sara Samora • Dec. 1, 2025

Residential electricity prices continue rise, up 7.4% in September: EIA

Some industry sources say the rise in prices is a function of generation capacity constraints, while others cite transmission and fuel costs. No one sees a near-term solution. 

By Meris Lutz • Nov. 26, 2025

No more PJM data centers unless they can be reliably served: market monitor

The PJM Interconnection’s market monitor urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to rule that large data centers can only come online if the grid operator can still meet reliability metrics.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 26, 2025

FERC urged to reject 370-MW NorthWestern Colstrip PPA

The Montana Environmental Information Center contends the power purchase agreement with Mercuria could harm NorthWestern Energy’s ratepayers.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 25, 2025

Natural gas sees ‘largest year-over-year drop’ in California as solar surges

For the first eight months of this year, utility-scale solar generation totaled 40.3 billion kilowatt hours in California, and natural gas accounted for 45.5 BkWh.

By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 25, 2025

NIPSCO to supply 3 GW to Amazon data centers in northern Indiana

Northern Indiana Public Service Co. and an affiliate expect to spend about $7 billion on 2.6 GW of gas, 400 MW of storage and transmission — to be paid for by Amazon.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 25, 2025

Georgia Power’s large load pipeline shrinks by 6 GW

Georgia Public Service Commission staff testimony noted data centers are “underperforming expectations” due to lower materialization rates, project cancellations and delays.

By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 24, 2025

DOE large load interconnection proposal sparks federal-state jurisdiction concerns

State regulators, lawmakers and ratepayer advocates voiced alarm over the department’s interconnection proposal, while the Data Center Coalition offered qualified support.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 24, 2025

FERC approves PECO-Amazon data center transmission agreement

The pact raises “significant questions” about how the agency and states will protect existing customers from the costs of adding large loads to the grid, FERC Commissioner Judy Chang warned.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 24, 2025

The week in 5 numbers: Power outages stretch, data center load overstated

Winter peak demand is rising faster than resource additions, and a bribery scandal ends with a massive payout.

By Meris Lutz • Nov. 21, 2025

New FERC commissioners say connecting data centers is key priority

The agency also will look at how to streamline permitting for certain liquefied natural gas and hydroelectric projects, per its open meeting on Thursday.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 21, 2025

Texas loan fund tops 3.5 GW of gas capacity secured with latest NRG deal

Greens Bayou is NRG’s third gas project to receive support from the Texas Energy Fund. The company has secured $1.15 billion in low-interest loans to develop about 1.5 GW of capacity.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 21, 2025

Texas is winning the energy war by ignoring the politics

The Lone Star State is demonstrating an affordable and reliable path to achieving American energy resilience that prioritizes practicality over ideology, writes Amperon CEO Sean Kelly.

By Sean Kelly • Nov. 20, 2025

PJM stakeholders fail to agree on data center interconnection rules

The PJM Interconnection’s board may develop a proposal for new rules to interconnect large loads to the grid, but the timing is unclear.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 20, 2025

DOE loans Constellation $1B to restart Three Mile Island nuclear unit

The Baltimore-based company expects to spend about $1.6 billion — about $1,916 per kW — to restart the unit, possibly as soon as in 2027.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 19, 2025

Groups sue FERC over MISO, SPP fast-track interconnection programs

The groups contend the Midcontinent Independent System Operator and Southwest Power Pool’s processes give undue advantage to fast-tracked projects and will lead to higher residential ratepayer costs.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 19, 2025