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…...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on March 31 accepted the first phase of capacity market reforms proposed by ISO New England, advancing efforts to align the region’s power market design with a rapidly changing resource mix. The decision marks a key milestone in a multi-year stakeholder process aimed at improving reliability outcomes and ensuring consumers…...
The Michigan Public Service Commission on March 27 approved a rate increase for Consumers Energy to support continued investments in electric grid reliability and reduce outage frequency and duration. The decision authorizes a $276.6 million increase in base rates, including $21.7 million in deferred operations and maintenance expenses and $14.6 million tied to cloud computing…...
PJM Interconnection and its stakeholders on March 26 advanced a set of proposals aimed at accelerating the connection of large-load customers, including data centers, while addressing mounting reliability and affordability concerns. The grid operator’s Markets and Reliability Committee approved two issue charges to examine a “connect-and-manage” approach, establishing a dedicated senior task force set to…...
