Regulation & Policy
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Permission granted by Midcontinent Independent System Operator
NERC overstates MISO reliability risks: market monitor
Also, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator has vastly overestimated the power supplies it will need in coming years to meet demand for electricity, market monitor David Patton said.
By Ethan Howland • June 6, 2025 -
Gerville via Getty Images
OpinionLarge load tariffs have a problem. Clean transition tariffs are the solution.
These tariffs were designed to offer large loads access to renewable energy, but they could be expanded to baseload generation to remove at-risk generation from the utility’s books.
By Ben Hertz-Shargel • June 5, 2025 -
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TrendlineThe Energy Transition to Renewables
Rising demand for power is continuing to drive demand for renewables, but policy uncertainty and mixed signals from the Trump administration add to existing challenges.
By Utility Dive staff -
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OpinionData center growth and the imperative of economic discipline
Grid access must be treated as a scarce, priced product. That means building markets for interconnection capacity, avoiding socialized costs and ensuring that those who impose system costs bear them.
By Terry Harvill and August Ankum • June 5, 2025 -
Gerville via Getty Images
Does PJM have a data center problem?
“Data centers could overwhelm the grids if they chose to,” Joseph Bowring, Market Analytics president, said. He called for requiring data centers to run their facilities on new power sources.
By Ethan Howland • June 5, 2025 -
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Diverse market regions highlight resource adequacy challenge at FERC conference
FERC Chairman Mark Christie posed a hypothetical question: Should the commission require grid operators to establish mandatory reserve margins for all load-serving entities?
By Robert Walton • June 5, 2025 -
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OpinionThink small: Why America should bet on small modular reactors
To reach their potential, SMRs will require effective support across the entire development cycle — and a sustained commitment based on bipartisan, long-term political backing.
By Robin Gaster • June 4, 2025 -
Ward DeWitt via Getty Images
Electricity consumer groups urge FERC to improve load forecasts
Load forecasts, which are surging, can affect wholesale electricity prices and resources adequacy, but they are rife with uncertainty and lack transparency, the groups said.
By Ethan Howland • June 4, 2025 -
Permission granted by Esme Howland
White House names energy attorney Swett to replace FERC’s Christie
The move comes as the White House appears to be exerting a growing influence over independent agencies like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the R Street Institute’s Devin Hartman said.
By Ethan Howland • June 3, 2025 -
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Amid rising energy prices, senators call for EPA to maintain Energy Star
Every dollar spent on the Energy Star program has resulted in nearly $350 in energy cost savings for business and households, according to Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz.
By Robert Walton • June 3, 2025 -
NRC approves NuScale’s small modular reactor plant design
The May 29 approval was NuScale’s second since 2020 and positions the Oregon-based nuclear technology developer as “the most near-term American SMR power solution,” the company said.
By Brian Martucci • June 2, 2025 -
Permission granted by PJM Interconnection
DOE orders Constellation to delay retiring 760 MW to ease PJM ‘emergency’
The U.S. Department of Energy partly based its action on a PJM Interconnection warning that it may need to call on demand response resources to keep the lights on under extreme conditions this summer.
By Ethan Howland • Updated June 2, 2025 -
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DOE cancels $3.7B in carbon capture, decarbonization awards
Calpine, PPL Corp., Ørsted and Exxon Mobil are among the companies affected by the decision.
By Ethan Howland • Updated May 30, 2025 -
SweetBunFactory via Getty Images
OpinionIRA tax credits spur construction, manufacturing in red and blue states
Repealing the Inflation Reduction Act could slow our ability to build more power generation and increase the risk of rolling blackouts and higher energy costs.
By Emmanuel Martin-Lauzer • May 29, 2025 -
Courtesy of Ten West Link
FERC ALJ order threatens competitive transmission cost caps: CAISO
The issue centers on cost recovery for a $553 million transmission line between Arizona and California built by a Lotus Infrastructure Partners affiliate.
By Ethan Howland • May 29, 2025 -
Permission granted by Ethan Howland
OpinionMaking energy affordable again: The role of cities, states and utilities in enhancing the energy safety net
Even as the U.S. pursues an energy agenda centered on achieving affordability through abundance, utilities and local governments have tools to help families navigate energy insecurities.
By Diana Hernández and Vivek Shastry • May 28, 2025 -
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Trump aims for 400 GW of nuclear by 2050, 10 large reactors under construction by 2030
Nuclear advocates welcomed proposed regulatory reforms while cautioning that NRC and DOE staff cuts could “undermine” progress. One skeptic said NRC changes would compromise safety.
By Brian Martucci • May 28, 2025 -
The image by NatFee is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Vistra solar, battery projects in MISO face supply chain delays
Vistra asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for two-year commercial operation deadline extensions for projects in Illinois totaling 833 MW.
By Ethan Howland • May 28, 2025 -
Permission granted by Consumers Energy
DOE orders 1.6-GW coal-fired power plant to delay shutdown over MISO outage concerns
Public Citizen said it plans to challenge the DOE’s “abuse of emergency authorities” when Consumers Energy seeks to recoup its costs for running the power plant this summer.
By Ethan Howland • May 27, 2025 -
Jeremy Poland via Getty Images
House GOP budget ‘worse than feared’ for clean energy: analysts
The bill’s “unworkable” provisions raise barriers for projects to qualify for clean energy credits before an accelerated 2028 expiration, an industry association said. Jefferies analysts also called out its “intentional targeting” of residential solar.
By Brian Martucci • May 22, 2025 -
Courtesy of Georgia Power
Nuclear industry ‘facing some headwinds’ amid congressional budget fight: NEI CEO
The federal government must continue clean energy tax credits, DOE nuclear initiatives and Nuclear Regulatory Commission reforms to sustain momentum, the NEI’s Maria Korsnick said.
By Brian Martucci • May 22, 2025 -
Opinion
Harnessing HVDC transmission as a transformative force in modern grid design
As grid modernization accelerates, high-voltage direct current transmission will be a cornerstone in the transition to a cleaner, smarter and more resilient power system.
By Anees Jeddy • May 21, 2025 -
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Tax credit repeal threatens 60,000 jobs in blue hydrogen: report
Some 9.8 million metric tons of blue hydrogen production capacity is in development based largely on the promise of the 45V tax credit, according to the Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions Forum.
By Emma Penrod • May 21, 2025 -
Sean Gallup via Getty Images
GOP supporters of IRA clean energy credits outline reconciliation bill recommendations
Fourteen Republicans asked to maintain the tax credit transferability mechanism through the phase-out period and make two other adjustments to the clean energy tax credit changes.
By Lamar Johnson • May 20, 2025 -
Ron and Patty Thomas via Getty Images
FERC rejects MISO plan to speed generation interconnection
The Expedited Resource Addition Study proposal failed to limit the number of projects that could be considered, said Commissioners David Rosner and Lindsay See.
By Robert Walton • May 20, 2025 -
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OpinionIs your electric bill too high? Thank LNG exports.
Allowing more gas to be sold overseas gives a windfall to corporate executives who profit from exports as well as from the higher prices they cause here at home by creating scarcity in the market.
By Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré (Ret.) • May 19, 2025
