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PJM Launches Five-Year Strategy to Strengthen Grid Reliability as Power Demand Surges

PJM Interconnection on Aug. 19 released a five-year strategy that places grid reliability at the center of its long-term agenda while outlining reforms to address accelerating electricity demand, tightening generation supplies and a rapidly changing power system. The plan identifies reliability as the organization’s guiding priority and pairs that objective with commitments to improve affordability,…...

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California Approves $95.2 Million Plan to Expand Zero-Emission Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

The California Energy Commission on Aug. 18 approved a $95.2 million investment plan to expand zero-emission vehicle infrastructure and support the state’s transition to cleaner transportation. The funding, administered through the commission’s Clean Transportation Program, or CTP, will support electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, as well as…...

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PJM Proposes Data Center Framework to Protect Grid Reliability, Affordability

PJM Interconnection on Aug. 13 filed a proposal with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to establish a framework for connecting new large electricity customers, including data centers, while limiting the impact of their growing power needs on existing ratepayers. The plan would create an Interim Resource Adequacy Service for new customers that do not bring…...

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New Jersey Board Calls for PJM Capacity Market Reform to Curb Rising Electricity Costs

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on Aug. 13 released a study finding that the capacity market operated by PJM Interconnection can no longer reliably deliver electricity at the lowest possible cost, prompting the state regulator to call for changes to its design and governance. The report, required under legislation enacted Aug. 25, 2025,…...

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PJM, Dominion Evaluate Large Load Rules After Record Data Center Disconnection

PJM Interconnection on Aug. 11 announced that it is evaluating changes to interconnection and ride-through requirements for large computational loads after nearly 4,000 megawatts of data center demand unexpectedly disconnected from the grid in Northern Virginia on July 22. The event marked the largest sudden transfer of large load in grid operator’s history and has…...

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Southwest Power Pool Takes Action to Expand Power Transfers Across the Eastern and Western Grids

Southwest Power Pool’s Board of Directors on Aug. 11 approved the Western and Eastern Interconnection Capacity Expansion High-Priority Study, or WE EXPAND, to evaluate opportunities to increase electricity transfers between the nation’s eastern and western grids as demand in its 17-state region is expected to nearly double over the next decade. The study will examine…...

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Michigan Commission Recommends Utility Reforms to Lower Energy Costs

The Michigan Public Service Commission on Aug. 10 released recommendations for legislative changes aimed at improving energy affordability, strengthening grid reliability, and limiting utility costs for Michigan customers. The recommendations follow Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s request for options to lower household energy bills through regulatory and legislative changes. The regulator recommended replacing annual utility rate cases…...

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U.S. Energy Department Announces $100 Million to Strengthen Critical Minerals Workforce

The U.S. Energy Department on Aug. 7 issued a Notice of Intent for up to $100 million to expand the domestic workforce supporting critical minerals production, processing, recovery, and recycling as the federal government seeks to strengthen supply chains for energy, manufacturing, and defense technologies. The Providing Opportunities for Specialized Education in Critical Technologies, or…...

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PJM Advances 200 GW of Generation Projects Under Reformed Interconnection Process

PJM Interconnection on Aug. 3 advanced 715 proposed electricity generation projects into the first cycle of its redesigned grid connection process, marking the first large-scale use of reforms intended to accelerate new generation projects while reducing speculative applications. The projects represent more than 200 gigawatts of potential generating capacity and will undergo engineering studies over…...

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PJM Seeks FERC Approval for Reliability Backstop Procurement to Address Capacity Shortfall

PJM Interconnection on July 31 filed a proposal with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve a new Reliability Backstop Procurement designed to address a projected capacity shortfall and accelerate investment in new power generation as electricity demand rises across the region. The proposal would allow the grid operator to begin the procurement process on…...

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Minnesota Regulator Orders Electric Utilities to File Wildfire Mitigation Plans

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on July 31 directed the state’s four rate-regulated electric utilities to develop standalone Wildfire Mitigation Plans, concluding that wildfire planning warrants greater regulatory attention as climate conditions elevate fire risk. Dakota Electric Association, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Xcel Energy must file a plan by Feb. 1, 2027…....

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California Grid Operator’s Extended Day-Ahead Market Generates $11.4 Million in First Two Months

The California Independent System Operator on July 30 released its first Western Energy Markets Quarterly Benefits Report, combining the long-running assessment of the Western Energy Imbalance Market, or WEIM, with the inaugural results from its Extended Day-Ahead Market, or EDAM. The expanded report provides a broader view of how coordinated real-time and day-ahead electricity trading…...