Trump plans to use emergency powers to fast-track generation co-located with AI

President Donald Trump’s comments on building power plants for data centers appears to align with the views of FERC Chairman Mark Christie, ClearView Energy Partners said.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 24, 2025

State utility regulators, 4 governors urge FERC to lower PJM capacity price cap

However, lowering the cap could stifle efforts to bring new electric supplies to the PJM region, according to Constellation Energy and the Electric Power Supply Association.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 23, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

DOE offers $30M for superhot rock geothermal projects

Tapping 1% of the U.S.’ superhot rock geothermal potential could produce 4.3 TW of firm power, according to the Clean Air Task Force.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 23, 2025

Trump freezes IRA funding

The White House issued a memo to clarify the funding pause, specifying that it pertains only to aspects of the law mentioned in Section 2 of the executive order.

By Kate Magill • Updated Jan. 23, 2025

Federal policy rollbacks won’t stop electricity growth

Regardless of federal climate and energy policy rollbacks over the next four years, the U.S. electric sector will need to plan for load growth at levels not seen for 20 years.

By Rawley Loken, Amber Mahone, Tory Clark • Jan. 22, 2025

Trump taps Mark Christie to lead FERC, replacing Willie Phillips

During his tenure at the agency, Christie has focused on reducing consumer costs, bolstering reliability and working with states.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 21, 2025

Appeals court directs FERC to strip ROE transmission adder from Duke, FirstEnergy Ohio utilities

The Sixth Circuit appeals court also upheld FERC's decision ending the extra return on equity in the state for American Electric Power and Dayton Power.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 21, 2025

FERC approves SPP’s Markets+ Western power market, plus 3 other open meeting takeaways

“This is extremely important … in facilitating the efficient use of generation and transmission, ultimately to benefit consumers,” FERC Commissioner Judy Chang said.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 17, 2025

Transportation nominee Duffy: ‘We will usher in a golden age of travel.’

President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Transportation pledged to work with both parties on issues such as AVs, EVs, Amtrak and other hot topics.

By Dan Zukowski • Updated Jan. 22, 2025

DOE nominee Wright aims to boost power supplies to lower costs

“I'm 100% committed to growing our electricity grid and our energy production and removing those barriers that are standing in the way,” said Chris Wright, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Energy.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 16, 2025

The 47th presidency offers hope for permitting reform

Republicans and President-elect Trump should take the win that a permitting reform compromise bill offers, and they should do this in the first 100 days of the new administration.

By Jonathan Chanis • Jan. 16, 2025

2025 FERC, DOE Outlook: Surging demand growth to drive power-sector agenda

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the departments of Energy and Interior will play key roles in the Trump administration’s efforts to spur new power supplies and cut energy costs.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 16, 2025

Bipartisan, ‘nonpolitical’ messaging key to achieving DOE’s 2030 VPP goal, analysts say

Successful VPPs in Utah and other GOP-controlled areas highlight effective framing around cost reduction, consumer choice, self-reliance and resilience, experts told Utility Dive.

By Brian Martucci • Jan. 15, 2025

Load forecasts from data centers risk falling into irrational exuberance territory

There is a long history of overestimating load growth, which can drive overbuilding and the addition of resources that may exceed the increased demand.

By Todd Snitchler • Jan. 15, 2025

Hydrogen is transforming a tiny Utah coal town. Could its success hold lessons for similar communities?

The Intermountain Power Project, which aims to be the first gas power plant to use 100% hydrogen, represents a rare success story in the nation’s quest to transition former coal-producing communities to renewable energy.

By Emma Penrod • Jan. 15, 2025

PJM’s proposal to unlock unused interconnection capacity gains broad support

The PJM Interconnection’s plan to revise its Surplus Interconnection Service rules could free up 26 GW for a July capacity auction, clean energy trade groups said Monday.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 14, 2025

PJM’s capacity market proposal faces pushback from market monitor, generators

The PJM Power Providers Group, Advanced Energy United and ratepayer advocates are among those opposing proposed revisions to the grid operator’s must-offer and market seller offer cap rules.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 13, 2025

Will the success of Biden’s clean energy policies impede Trump’s agenda?

Because of the Inflation Reduction Act's success across the country, Trump may encounter obstacles in his attempt to undo it, including opposition from members of his own party.

By Kenneth Irvin and Ogemdi Maduike • Jan. 13, 2025

Public Citizen challenges cost allocation for $546M PSE&G transmission project

A recent $6.6 million settlement agreement between the New Jersey utility and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission details “harrowing fraud” that makes the project’s costs imprudent, according to the advocacy group.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Jan. 10, 2025

PJM ‘shovel-ready’ interconnection plan draws mixed reviews at FERC

State utility regulators and power plant owners told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission they support PJM’s Reliability Resource Initiative, but renewable developers and others oppose it.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 9, 2025

9 US electric power sector issues to watch in 2025

From rising electricity prices and demand to emerging opportunities and challenges around nuclear energy, virtual power plants, renewables and more, we’ve highlighted nine of the most important issues for the year ahead.

By Robert Walton, Ethan Howland, Diana DiGangi, Larry Pearl, Brian Martucci • Jan. 8, 2025

Biden bans most new US offshore oil and gas drilling in clean energy push

President-elect Donald Trump vowed on Monday to undo the executive order that applies to more than 625 million acres of federal coastline.

By Jennifer Goodman , Julie Strupp • Jan. 7, 2025

Voltus agrees to pay $18M to settle allegations it violated MISO demand response rules

Through a program called “Scranta” — a combination of “scrape” and “Santa” — Voltus obtained data from an Ameren Illinois website without customers’ knowledge, per the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 7, 2025

Texas, Utah, Last Energy challenge NRC’s ‘overburdensome’ microreactor regulations

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s “incredibly costly” licensing process hinders the U.S. nuclear industry, the two states and nuclear developer said in a federal lawsuit filed Dec. 30 in Texas.

By Brian Martucci • Jan. 6, 2025

Big tech must stop passing the cost of its spiking energy needs onto the public

We need new policies that ensure the cost of new data centers is carried by the tech companies that profit from them, not by regular energy consumers such as family households and small businesses.

By Julianne Malveaux • Jan. 6, 2025