The Bureau of Land Management on April 28 completed an oil and gas lease sale covering 23 parcels across North Dakota and South Dakota, generating a record high of nearly $44.4 million in total receipts and leasing almost 9,000 acres. The lease sale was conducted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which resets the…...
New York Independent System Operator on April 24 released its annual Summer Reliability Assessment, identifying a tightening supply cushion ahead of peak demand season. The grid operator projects a baseline reliability margin of 417 megawatts (MW), marking the lowest level in recent history and signaling growing pressure on the state’s power system. The assessment indicates…...
The New York State Department of Public Service on April 22 announced that the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission issued final siting permits to AES Clean Power for three renewable energy projects totaling 343 megawatts across Clinton, Jefferson, and Lewis counties. The approvals mark a continued push to expand…...
President Donald Trump on April 20 issued a series of presidential determinations under the Defense Production Act directing the U.S. Department of Energy to accelerate domestic energy production, infrastructure, and supply chains, citing urgent national security risks tied to inadequate capacity and foreign dependence. The action follows Executive Order 14156, which declared a national energy…...
PJM Interconnection on April 17 released its 2025 Regional Transmission Expansion Plan report, outlining a significant pipeline of transmission investments and planning reforms aimed at maintaining grid reliability across its multi-state footprint. The grid operator identified 122 new baseline transmission projects with an estimated cost of $11.8 billion to address shifting power flows and system…...
The Public Utility Commission of Texas on April 17 introduced a standardized blueprint and guidelines for electric utilities to develop wildfire mitigation plans, aiming to strengthen grid reliability and reduce wildfire risk across the state. The action follows a rule adopted in November 2025 requiring utilities to prepare plans addressing wildfire threats to electric infrastructure…...
The New York Public Service Commission on April 16 adopted comprehensive cybersecurity regulations for electric, gas, steam, and water utilities, establishing one of the most stringent frameworks in the U.S. to safeguard critical infrastructure and customer data. The action advances statutory requirements under state law directing utilities to strengthen privacy protections while addressing growing cyber…...
Williams Companies on April 14 broke ground on the Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline designed to transport natural gas from Pennsylvania into New York City and Long Island. Federal officials participated in the groundbreaking ceremony, underscoring renewed momentum for a long-delayed natural gas expansion. The project, an expansion of the existing Transco natural gas pipeline system,…...
New York Governor Kathy Hochul on April 13 announced up to $150 million in supplemental funding to accelerate the deployment of energy-efficient heat pump systems across small residential buildings statewide, advancing the state’s broader push toward building electrification and emissions reduction. The funding will be administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal through…...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on April 6 finalized revisions to its 2024 Clean Air Act standards for oil and natural gas operations, commonly referred to as OOOOb/c, easing certain requirements to reduce compliance costs and operational constraints for industry participants. The action modifies provisions in the Biden administration’s regulations governing emissions from new and…...
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on April 3 approved Xcel Energy’s phase 2 of its Capacity Connect initiative, advancing a plan to build a distributed network of battery storage systems designed to support grid reliability and clean energy integration. The program establishes a utility-owned virtual power plant, or VPP, by linking multiple smaller battery units…...
Southwest Power Pool on April 2 announced the launch of expanded grid operations that extend its service territory into the Western Interconnection, making it the first U.S. grid operator to span two major power systems. The organization’s expanded operations officially began at midnight central time on April 1, following months of coordinated testing, simulation, and…...
