Regulation & Policy


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    FERC approves PJM fast-track review for ‘shovel-ready’ power projects

    PJM will consider up to 10 interconnection requests annually over two years for resources of at least 250 MW that can come online in three years.

    By Updated 4 hours ago
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    Courtesy of American Battery
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    DOE reinstates $57M American Battery grant

    American Battery Technology Co. won its appeal after the agency canceled the grant last year. It will continue plans to build a $115 million commercial-scale lithium refinery alongside its lithium-ion battery recycling efforts.

    By Megan Quinn • June 9, 2026
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Cybersecurity of the Grid

    In addition to presenting opportunities for growth, AI is exacerbating cyber threats with more sophisticated malware that is easier than ever to build and deploy. The rise of distributed energy resources also creates more opportunities for attack. 

    By Utility Dive staff
  • U.S. Supreme Court, DOE energy efficiency rules, condensing, non-condensing water heaters, gas furnaces
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    georgeclerk via Getty Images
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    Supreme Court sends furnace case back to appeals court

    The top court agreed with the Trump administration that Biden-era rules effectively eliminating non-condensing gas furnaces and water heaters from the market are based on an incomplete legal review.

    By Robert Freedman • June 9, 2026
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    FirstEnergy asks FERC to require data centers to pay for transmission interconnection costs

    FirstEnergy’s proposal adopts a cost allocation practice from the gas pipeline sector. It comes ahead of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s expected large load interconnection decision on June 18.

    By June 9, 2026
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    Microsoft seeks Nevada tariff to shield ratepayers from data center costs

    The proposal would require large-load customers to pay for infrastructure built specifically to serve their projects while preserving standard utility charges for broader grid services.

    By Marlene Wilden • June 8, 2026
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    Courtesy of Meta
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    FERC approves SPP non-firm, large-load transmission service

    The Southwest Power Pool service aims to help data centers and other large loads get online quickly, but they can have their service cut when grid conditions are tight.

    By June 8, 2026
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    The image by OUC Reliable One is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    DOE orders OUC’s 465-MW coal unit in Florida to continue running

    Although Florida is at “normal risk” for long-term energy adequacy, the unit near Orlando needs to remain online partly to help serve potential data centers in the state, the department said.

    By June 5, 2026
  • President Trump answers questions about funding and projects to support coal power at an event at the White House.
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    Retrieved from White House.
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    Trump administration announces $850M to modernize US coal capacity, build 2 new plants

    New coal-fired plants in Anchorage, Alaska, and Mt. Storm, West Virginia, would total 2.85 GW. They would be the first new U.S. coal plants to come online since 2013.

    By June 5, 2026
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    Meris Lutz/Utility Dive
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    Q&A

    DOE’s Alex Fitzsimmons on energy markets, AI, renewables and more

    Utility Dive caught up with the associate deputy secretary of energy at the Edison Electric Institute conference in Las Vegas, where the dominant theme was balancing demand growth with affordability.

    By June 5, 2026
  • A person in an orange jacket speaks into microphones labeled “FOX5 NEWS” and “abc 13 KTNV-TV” while holding a phone at an outdoor gathering. Behind them, a crowd holds protest signs, including signs reading “CANCEL THE DAILY DEMAND CHARGE,” “Cancel The DAILY Demand Charge,” and “PEOPLE OVER POLLUTERS.”
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    Photo by Bryan Steffy/People's Action via Getty Images
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    Protesters target NV Energy at electric utility conference as anger over affordability rises

    “In Las Vegas, one of the fastest warming cities in the country, you cannot live without electricity,” said protest organizer Leslie Vega, who said she’s lost loved ones to heatstroke.

    By June 4, 2026
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    Opinion

    Speed to power requires more transmission, not less competition

    A complaint at FERC seeking to limit competition among transmission developers would inject uncertainty into the process and spur regulatory delays, writes Will Hazelip from National Grid Ventures US.

    By Will Hazelip • June 4, 2026
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Constellation’s Three Mile Island nuclear restart gets boost with FERC waiver

    Constellation Energy will be able to transfer capacity interconnection rights, enabling the nuclear unit to potentially deliver all its power when it restarts, possibly before the end of 2027.

    By June 3, 2026
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    SEC proposes rule rescinding Biden-era climate risk disclosures

    The agency’s proposal calls the 2024 climate disclosure rules “a dramatic overreach of the Commission’s statutory authority and, independently, unsound as a matter of policy.”

    By Lamar Johnson • June 2, 2026
  • A nuclear power plant sits across a snowy field.
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    The image by AsNuke is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Opinion

    What does it take to restore a nuclear power plant?

    Restarting previously closed nuclear plants could be one of the most cost-effective ways to supply large amounts of firm, clean electricity, writes Patrick White at Clean Air Task Force.

    By Patrick White • June 2, 2026
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    Eversource project ‘epitomizes’ flawed transmission reviews: New England states

    New England “severely lacks” oversight of asset condition projects like Eversource Energy’s X-178 transmission project, the New England States Committee on Electricity told FERC.

    By June 2, 2026
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    Chun han via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Black & Veatch

    How the U.S. solar industry can solve its 53K-worker challenge

    The solar workforce challenge is significant but solvable. Here’s how to close the gap.

    June 2, 2026
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    Opinion

    Access to real-time electricity data should be a basic consumer right

    The technology exists and the infrastructure is there. What is missing is a requirement that customers have access to data on their electricity use, writes Joel Hicks at the University of Oregon.

    By Joel Hicks • June 1, 2026
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Once you secure SPARK funds for transmission development, what comes next?

    The success of DOE’s SPARK initiative will depend on how prepared organizations are to execute once the funding arrives, writes Al Eliasen, Spatial Business Systems CEO.

    By Al Eliasen • May 29, 2026
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    New Mexico has the nation’s best DER interconnection policy: report

    The state received high marks for its robust energy storage interconnection framework, frequent public reports on its interconnection queue and incorporating IEEE’s technical standard for DER interconnections.

    By Brian Martucci • May 28, 2026
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Hyperscalers didn’t set out to be power companies. The grid left them no choice.

    The power gap left hyperscalers with no alternative but to take on utility-scale obligations and lock up gigawatts of generation, writes Peak Nano CMO Shaun Walsh.

    By Shaun Walsh • May 28, 2026
  • Plumes of steam rise from data center buildings.
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    Courtesy of Google
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    Oregon PUC approves PGE’s large-load tariff framework for data centers

    The order shifts more infrastructure costs and interconnection obligations to hyperscale customers while positioning Oregon’s 2025 POWER Act as an early test of how states manage AI-driven load growth.

    By Marlene Wilden • May 28, 2026
  • Transmission lines run through a field.
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    MISO pushes back on utility complaint over competitive transmission bidding

    The grid operator stopped short of taking a position on the complaint itself. States and consumer advocates oppose it, while at least one major data center company supports it.

    By May 28, 2026
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    Opinion

    How Illinois’ energy policy blueprint can address affordability, reliability

    By betting on efficiency, storage, long-term energy planning and grid flexibility, the Illinois’ Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act offers a blueprint for the state’s energy future, Vote Solar’s John Delurey writes.

    By John Delurey • May 26, 2026
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    Courtesy of NextEra Energy
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    Competitive transmission projects come online faster than incumbent projects in 4 regions: R Street

    Completed competitive transmission projects are also about 30% less expensive than comparable incumbent utility projects, according to a report from the think tank. 

    By May 26, 2026
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    milorad kravic via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by West Monroe

    Building an affordable energy future

    Customer affordability is becoming a defining priority for utilities as investment costs and energy demands continue to rise.

    May 26, 2026