U.S. Energy Department Explores Use of Storage Technologies to Enhance Performance of Fossil-Fueled Power Plants

New York Launches Bulk Energy Storage Solicitation to Advance 6 GW Storage Target and Bolster Grid Resilience

New York Governor Kathy Hochul on July 28 announced the launch of the state’s first Bulk Energy Storage Request for Proposals, aiming to procure one gigawatt of storage capacity as part of the state’s broader goal to deploy six gigawatts of energy storage by 2030. Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development…...

Transmission requirements

Western Energy Markets Governing Body Preserves Key Reliability Feature in First Vote Under New Independent Governance

The Western Energy Markets Governing Body on July 23 has taken a significant step under the California Independent System Operator’s new independent governance framework by voting to preserve a key grid reliability tool, Assistance Energy Transfers, or AET, within the Western Energy Imbalance Market. The mechanism, introduced in 2023, allows balancing authorities to receive emergency…...

pjm

PJM Capacity Auction Prices Rise by 22 Percent Amid Growing Demand and Reliability Pressures

PJM Interconnection LLC’s capacity market auction for the 2026/2027 delivery year cleared at a record-high price of $329.17 per megawatt-day (MW-day), about 22 percent higher than last year’s auction, according to the results announced on July 22. The clearing price hit the price cap approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission following a ninefold increase…...

EPA Releases Strategic Plan in Conjunction with President's Proposed $11.8 Billion Budget to Address Climate Change, Environmental Justice

New York Commission Orders Central Hudson to Curb Gas Demand, Supporting Clean Energy Transition

The New York State Public Service Commission on July 17 directed Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation to implement new measures over the next three years to reduce natural gas usage in its service territory. The order, issued as part of the utility’s final long-term gas plan, requires the company to develop pilot demand response…...

Oil Gas Methane

U.S. Interior Updates Guidelines to Accelerate Plugging of Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells

The U.S. Interior Department on July 17 announced that it has revised its procedures for states applying to federal programs intended at cleaning up abandoned oil and gas wells. The updated guidance modifies two grant programs—the $1.93 billion Orphaned Wells State Formula Grant Program and $780 million Orphaned Wells State Matching Grant Program. The revisions…...

Ohio Lawmakers Pass Bill to Revoke $1.1 Billion Nuclear Subsidy

U.S. Energy Department Initiates Pilot Program to Build Nuclear Fuel Production Lines

The U.S. Energy Department on July 16 announced a pilot program to fast-track the expansion of advanced nuclear reactors and support domestic nuclear fuel supply chains. The department issued a request for applications from qualified U.S. businesses to construct and operate nuclear fuel production lines through its authorization process. This initiative aims to cut U.S…....

Massachusetts Hydro Quebec Contracts

Google and Brookfield Sign $3 Billion Deal in Largest U.S. Corporate Hydropower Agreement

Brookfield Asset Management, through its subsidiary Brookfield Renewable, has signed a landmark agreement with Google to provide up to 3,000 megawatts of carbon-free hydroelectric capacity across the U.S. The Hydro Framework Agreement, announced on July 15, is the largest corporate clean power deal for hydropower to date. On the same day, at the first Energy…...

coal capacity

U.S. Coal Capacity to Drop by 27 Gigawatts by 2028: EIA

The total operating capacity of U.S. coal-fired power stations is set to decrease from 172 gigawatts (GW) during May 2025 to 145 GW by the end of 2028, according to a July 14 report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Coal usage in the U.S. electric power sector has declined significantly over the last…...

FERC Approves Rules to Mitigate Cyber Threats Related to Supply Chain for Grid Systems

Canada and Northwest Territories Launch AI-Driven Core Scanning Pilot to Unlock Critical Minerals Potential

The Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories on July 14 launched a new initiative to apply artificial intelligence and digital scanning to historic drill core samples, aiming to uncover untapped mineral resources in the North and accelerate exploration of critical minerals. As part of the pilot, geoscientists will scan and analyze…...

steel long pipes pipe elbow station oil factory during refinery petrochemistry industry gas site distillery

U.S. Energy Department Approves Strategic Petroleum Reserve Exchange

The U.S. Energy Department on July 11 announced the approval of an exchange from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or SPR, with ExxonMobil Corporation to tackle logistical complexities affecting crude oil deliveries to the firm’s Baton Rouge refinery. The action will help maintain robust regional supply of transportation fuels across Louisiana and the wider Gulf Coast…....

oil and gas

U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production Growth to Remain Strong Through 2030: EIA

U.S. crude oil and natural gas production growth is projected to remain relatively high through 2030, according to a July 11 report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. This growth is largely driven by rising exports of petroleum products and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Advances in drilling technologies, particularly horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, have…...

gasoline prices

Refinery Shutdowns Could Lead to Higher Gasoline Prices on The West Coast: EIA

California is projected to lose 17 percent of its oil refinery capacity within the next 12 months due to the planned shutdown of two refineries, according to a July 10 report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. If these closures proceed as expected, they could lead to increased fuel price volatility across the West…...