Senators vow to block permitting reform over Trump’s renewables obstruction

“There won’t be the votes unless we can have some assurance,” Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, told the Interior secretary. “And it would really help if you would move those permits that are sitting on your desk.”

By Diana DiGangi • April 30, 2026

FirstEnergy opposes key part of PJM data center backstop procurement plan

The PJM Interconnection’s planned backstop auction is flawed, said CEO Brian Tierney. Separately, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said his administration will oppose rate hike requests that fail to meet affordability criteria.

By Ethan Howland • April 30, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

Meta deal adds to Entergy’s $57B, 4-year capital plan

Entergy’s 2026-2029 capital plan is more than 30% higher than what the company announced three months ago, and it has a pipeline of 7-12 GW of potential data center load.

By Robert Walton • April 30, 2026

Capacity cost explosion: What PJM’s $80B bill means for the AI buildout

To avoid an era of grid instability, electric-sector stakeholders must fast-track replacement generation, deploy grid-enhancing technologies and pass permitting reform, writes EnerKnol’s Shahid Mahdi.

By Shahid Mahdi • April 29, 2026

Americans deserve facts, not fearmongering, about their electric bills

Policymakers must remove barriers to new infrastructure and allow competitive power markets to function properly, writes Todd Snitchler, CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association.

By Todd Snitchler • April 28, 2026

Cities sue EPA for failing to uphold soot standard

“By ignoring the legal responsibility to uphold its own rule, U.S. EPA is willfully abandoning the agency’s duties under the Clean Air Act,” California Air Resources Board Chair Lauren Sanchez said.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • April 27, 2026

PJM market monitor opposes 1.3-GW gas plant deal between Hull Street, Rockland Capital

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission should consider how power plant deals could draw capacity out of the PJM Interconnection market to serve data centers, Monitoring Analytics said.

By Ethan Howland • April 27, 2026

Economic development group pushes Congress on permitting reform

In a ‘fly-in’ this week, the Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy emphasized the economic benefits of faster permitting as electricity demand rises.

By Brian Martucci • April 23, 2026

In New Jersey, we’re leading by example, tackling energy affordability head-on

Christine Guhl-Sadovy, president of the Board of Public Utilities, says the BPU is expediting solar and storage while advocating for structural market and cost recovery reforms at the state, regional and federal levels.

By Christine Guhl-Sadovy • April 23, 2026

PJM market monitor opposes waivers for Constellation’s Three Mile Island nuclear restart

Constellation needs the waivers from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to fully deliver power as soon as the unit restarts, possibly next year. It has a 20-year deal to sell all the energy, capacity and clean energy attributes to Microsoft for data centers.

By Ethan Howland • April 23, 2026

Alaska’s energy challenges require a national response

Alaska energy modernization should be treated as a national infrastructure priority, writes Northwest Public Power Association CEO Kurt Miller.

By Kurt Miller • April 22, 2026

Court curtails Trump administration moves to stifle wind, solar development

The preliminary injunction will go into effect while litigation plays out over a series of federal actions that have blocked or delayed renewable energy projects.

By Ethan Howland • April 22, 2026

What does Trump’s wartime powers flex mean for transformers and other grid equipment shortages?

Spencer Pederson of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association told Utility Dive the move was a “step in the right direction,” but its impact will depend on details and funding. In the meantime, distribution transformer backlogs are running a year or more.

By Robert Walton • April 22, 2026

New England states urge FERC to advance $1.5B in ratepayer refunds

Governors and utility regulators asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to dismiss a request by Eversource and Avangrid to stay the refund order while a court weighs an appeal. The dispute has already spawned 15 years of litigation. 

By Ethan Howland • April 21, 2026

La Plata Electric CEO: Why Western utilities are moving toward regional markets

Following its transition into the Southwest Power Pool, LPEA expects an immediate reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of roughly 20%, along with reduced wholesale power costs, writes Chris Hansen.

By Chris Hansen • April 20, 2026

The single-platform utility: A competitive advantage in the age of AI

Many utilities still run different technological worlds without a common platform and data foundation. Learn how a single platform can increase business speed while reducing risks and costs.

By Oracle • April 20, 2026

PECO withdraws $510M in rate hike proposals over affordability concerns

“We recognize that Pennsylvanians are struggling with basic necessities like gas, food, and energy and have decided to withdraw our proposal,” said David Vahos, president and CEO of the Exelon subsidiary.

By Ethan Howland • April 17, 2026

Congress presses DOE’s Wright on Energy Star, permitting reform

Energy Secretary Chris Wright didn’t offer plans for DOE’s full takeover of the Energy Star program. He agreed to work with Congress on methane rules and permitting reform.

By Diana DiGangi • April 17, 2026

FERC tees up June decision on data center interconnection reform

Other open meeting takeaways: Chairman Swett is “perplexed” on PJM backstop auction, the agency rejected a renewable developer’s $44-million waiver request, and zombie dockets die.

By Ethan Howland • April 17, 2026

After 2 years, ratepayer pain and political fallout from Georgia’s nuclear plant Vogtle

Texas built 36 GW of solar and storage in four years, for about $36 billion. Georgia built 2 GW of nuclear in 15 years at the same cost, writes Patty Durand, founder of Georgians for Affordable Energy.

By Patty Durand • April 17, 2026

Wright defends actions on coal plants, funding cuts in testy House hearing

When pressed, the energy secretary said that money for home energy efficiency rebate programs, which has been frozen since last year, would “probably” be released in a “few weeks.”

By Diana DiGangi • April 16, 2026

Why reforming rooftop solar and battery permitting belongs on every state affordability agenda

The hurdles that stop families from installing home energy upgrades are firmly within the control of state governments, writes Permit Power founder Nick Josefowitz.

By Nick Josefowitz • April 16, 2026

FERC orders American Efficient to pay $1.1B for ‘brazen fraud’

“American Efficient’s years-long fraud profoundly disrupted the organized capacity markets and ultimately increased costs for ordinary Americans,” FERC Chairman Laura Swett said.

By Ethan Howland • Updated April 17, 2026

An outdated FERC policy is undermining the White House’s ratepayer protection pledge

FERC should revisit its transmission pricing policy and require utilities to assign the full costs of service to power-hungry data centers, writes Harvard’s Ari Peskoe.

By Ari Peskoe • April 15, 2026

Colorado governor signs ‘advanced transmission technology’ bill

The bill requires Xcel Energy, Black Hills and Tri-State to assess the potential for grid-enhancing technologies to bolster the bulk power system, reduce wildfires and increase interstate power flows. Other states are following suit.

By Ethan Howland • Updated May 29, 2026