Regulation & Policy

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    Alamy
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    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 • June 24, 2026
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    Getty Images
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    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 • June 24, 2026
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    Nathan Howard via Getty Images
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    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
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    The image by arbyreed is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Deep Dive

    Power plants under DOE emergency orders are producing way less energy than before

    The Department of Energy ordered six power plants to delay their retirements last year. Two of them produced zero electricity in the first quarter in 2026, and another one is now offline for repairs.

    By • June 23, 2026
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    Diana DiGangi/Utility Dive
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    GETs, demand response can ease near-term data center electricity price pressure: report

    Data centers could use up to 15% of all U.S. electricity by 2030, up from 5% in 2024, Berkeley Lab researchers said in a separate analysis.

    By • June 23, 2026
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    Retrieved from Public Utilities Commission of Texas.
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    Texas, facing 438 GW queue, approves initial large-load interconnection process

    The first projects to navigate the process will be called “Batch Zero." The Electric Reliability Council of Texas says its large-load queue is almost 90% data centers.

    By • June 22, 2026
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    Retrieved from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
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    6 takeaways from FERC’s data center interconnection decision

    If RTOs fail to address large-load concerns identified by FERC, the agency will dictate the solutions, per FERC’s David LaCerte. “I say this not as a threat, but as a statement of duty,” he said.

    By • June 22, 2026
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    iStock.com/Hiraman

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    Sponsored by Paces

    How AI fits in the energy development workflow

    Energy's AI adoption is low. The developers pulling ahead know which workflows to automate.

    By Kyle Baranko, Head of Product • June 22, 2026
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    Adobe Stock/AI-generated

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    Sponsored by ScottMadden

    Rate cases are strategy: Redefining how utilities drive regulatory outcomes

    Approaching the utility rate case with data, strategy and diligence enables favorable outcomes and strengthens credibility.

    By Josh Kmiec • June 22, 2026
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    John Moore via Getty Images
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    Trump administration buys out 4 more offshore wind leases for $765M

    Invenergy will redirect the funds toward natural gas plants in Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri as well as geothermal projects, the U.S. Department of the Interior said.

    By • June 18, 2026
  • U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk listen to a reporter's question in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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    DOJ intervenes on behalf of xAI in data center gas turbine lawsuit

    The Department of Defense said the xAI data center powered by the gas plant is critical to national security, revealing Grok was used to fire thousands of missiles in the Iran war.

    By • June 18, 2026
  • Data center development in Loudoun County, Virginia.
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    Diana DiGangi/Utility Dive
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    Maryland lawmakers back data center transmission cost complaint at FERC

    The PJM Interconnection improperly makes ratepayers pay for data center-driven transmission projects that don’t benefit them, according to Maryland's ratepayer advocate.

    By • June 18, 2026
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    Courtesy of GE Vernova
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    Dominion Energy, Santee Cooper receive state approval for $5B gas project

    The South Carolina Public Service Commission dismissed calls from the Sierra Club to impose a cost cap on the Canadys project or require the utilities to commit to retiring coal-fired units.

    By • June 16, 2026
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    Permission granted by Ethan Howland
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    Utility sector outlook deteriorates on affordability concerns: Fitch

    Utilities are expected to make $240 billion in capital expenditures this year, but political and regulatory pressure could put timely cost recovery at risk, the ratings agency said.

    By • June 15, 2026
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    The image by Steven Baltakatei Sandoval is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    DOE extends TransAlta Centralia Unit 2 emergency order

    The U.S. Department of Energy on Friday said the order to keep the last coal plant in Washington state online is needed to help meet peak summer demand.

    By • June 15, 2026
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    Getty / FanPro via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by West Monroe Partners

    AI load growth is changing the utility business model

    Large-load demand is transforming utility strategy, regulation, and investment.

    By Betsy Soehren Jones, Partner, Energy & Utilities Practice Lead for AI, Cyber, and Data, West Monroe • June 15, 2026
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    The image by Liam Enea is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Connecticut AG, agencies ask FERC to cut Eversource, Avangrid RTO adder

    A new state law requires the utilities to participate in ISO New England, making them ineligible for an extra 0.5% return on equity, according to a complaint filed at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

    By • June 12, 2026
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    Getty Images
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    Appeals court upholds FERC decision ordering refunds from MISO transmission owners

    Eversource Energy and other transmission owners in New England could see ramifications from the ruling that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission can order refunds for multi-year periods.

    By • June 11, 2026
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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 June 10, 2026
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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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    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
  • Construction of Microsoft Azure data center campus, known as IAD01-1 and IAD01-2, on Oct. 19, 2024, in Leesburg, Va.
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    Getty Images
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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