As of April 21, 2026, the Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi, held a telephone summit with President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo of Mexico. [1] The two leaders discussed the situation in the Middle East and agreed on the importance of cooperation on energy supply in light of current global energy conditions. They also agreed to promote further bilateral cooperation as “Strategic Global Partners,” including strengthening economic relations and trade. Prime Minister Takaichi proposed establishing a dialogue framework on economic security, including cooperation with Mexico on mineral resources, while both sides expressed support for improving conditions for Japanese companies operating in Mexico and strengthening overall economic ties.
[USA] Court blocks administration from delaying renewable projects
As of April 21, 2026, a federal judge ruled that the Department of Interior and the Army Corps of Engineer must end a set of policies that limit solar and wind energy permitting on federal land while litigation over the issue plays out. [1] 57.2 GW of wind, solar, hybrid, and offshore wind capacity have been canceled or remain at risk of cancellation or delay beyond 2029. [2] RENEW Northeast, the Southern Renewable Energy Association, Interwest Energy Alliance, and other clean energy groups showed that their members faced imminent harm by 5 policy actions of the Trump administration, leading US District Court judge Denise Casper to grant their request for a preliminary injunction. [3] Casper stated that the plaintiffs are likely to win their suit since they showed that the public interest favors preliminary relief from the agency actions because they harm the public by delaying and preventing the development of wind and solar energy projects in the US. [4] This injunction affects five issues: the DOI review procedures memo which listed 68 permitting actions subject to review by the DOI secretary for solar and wind; a ban on the use of the Information for Planning and Consultation website for solar and wind developers; the DOI “land order” which barred wind and solar projects on federal land by requiring ‘capacity density’ consideration; an Army Corps’ memo that directs the agency to prioritize its permit reviews to high capacity density projects; and the Zerzan M-opinion, which effectively bars new offshore wind projects. [5] [6]
[1] https://ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov/
[3] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.293725/gov.uscourts.mad.293725.89.0.pdf
[6] https://www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025-05/m-37086.pdf
[USA] FERC to act on large load interconnection docket by June 2026
As of April 16, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an Order Regarding Intent to Act in Docket No. RM26-4-000, formally signaling that it will move forward by June 2026 on establishing standardized interconnection procedures for large electricity loads, including data centers and other high-intensity demand users. [1] The order builds on the Commission’s broader effort to address rising interconnection queue backlogs across U.S. regional transmission organizations and to improve coordination between transmission planning and rapidly growing load forecasts. It specifically highlights concerns that existing processes were designed primarily for generation interconnection rather than large-scale demand connections, creating procedural gaps as load growth accelerates. The Commission also notes that inconsistent regional treatment of large-load interconnections has begun to create planning uncertainty for both transmission providers and customers, particularly in high-growth areas tied to electrification and digital infrastructure expansion.
[1] https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/news/ferc-act-large-load-interconnection-docket-june-2026
[Japan] Japan offers $10 billion in support to help Asia secure oil
As of April 15, 2026, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae held the Asia Zero-Emission Community meeting, which was attended by leaders of Asian countries. [1] The Prime Minister announced the launch of a new cooperation framework entitled “Partnership on Wide Energy and Resource Resilience (POWERR Asia)”, for emergency and structural responses with mid-to-long term perspectives. The framework prioritizes cooperation in emergency responses through financing procurement of crude oil, petroleum products, and maintaining supply chains in Asia. It addresses structural responses such as establishing stockpiling and release systems as well as the construction of storage tanks to expand the number of crude oil reserves within the region. Additionally, the framework aims to make it feasible to secure critical minerals, diversify energy resources like biofuels, and promote industrial advancement through energy-saving initiatives. The $10 billion financial framework aims to support the stability of Asian countries and insulates Japan from some effects of the ongoing conflict in Iran, particularly through the procurement of medical supplies from Asia to Japan.
[1] https://japan.kantei.go.jp/105/diplomatic/202604/15azec.html
[USA] Georgia Power’s BYO clean resources plan for large loads approved
As of April 7, 2026, Georgia regulators approved the Customer Identified Resource (CIR) program, which allows energy customers to bring clean generation resources onto the system in exchange for renewable energy certificates and credit for the energy value of the resource. [1] The framework allows up to 3 GW of customer-identified resources through 2035, representing the majority of Georgia Power’s plan to procure 4 GW of new renewables over the course of the same time period. The eligible projects may be located in other states as long as they can deliver power to Georgia Power under an approved interconnection framework. The CIR program builds on Georgia Power’s Clean and Renewable Energy Subscription program, which allows customers to purchase a pro-rata share of the production of renewable resources that are procured through the company’s utility-scale renewable requests for proposal process. Then the utility retires the RECs on the customer’s behalf. According to Nidhi Thakar, CEBA’s vice president for policy, this bring-your-own-resource program can be scaled nationally to bring new energy resources to the system more quickly.
[USA] Champlain Hudson transmission project market rules approved
As of April 13, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the market rules for the Champlain Hudson Power Express project. [1] The project is a $6-billion, 1,250 MW merchant transmission line that will start delivering hydropower from Canada to New York City in May 2026. [2] The line spans over 300 miles and is slated to deliver 10.4 TWh a year from Hydro-Québec under a 25-year contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. [3] The market rules that were approved include revisions to New York ISO’s (NYISO) Open Access Transmission Tariff and its Market Administration and Control Area Services Tariff. The revisions will allow NYISO to integrate the project’s physical reservation model with the ISO’s financial reservation system. The project will be NYISO’s first transmission facility that employs physical reservations to allocate transmission rights.
[2] https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Large-Scale-Renewables/Tier-Four
[3] https://www.ferc.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/20200529162139-ER20-1214-000.pdf
[Japan] JFE Holdings and Mitsubishi sign another MOU to advance data center project
As of April 6, 2026, JFE Holdings and Mitsubishi Corporation announced a second memorandum of understanding (MOU) toward the joint development of a power business and data center project in the Ohgishima, Keihin District, Kanagawa Prefecture. [1] Under this MOU, the companies will advance the business plan with the aim of entering into a joint venture agreement. The initial MOU, signed in March 2025, aimed to explore the feasibility of this, after which the companies conducted assessments of an integrated power and data center project. By leveraging the advantages of the Ohgishima Area, they were able to find a large-scale site located 20km from central Tokyo with a stable power supply from JFE’s 190 MW captive power plant. The site can support at least 2 data centers, and the companies are targeting the commencement of operations for an initial 60 MW data center in 2031. The feasibility of constructing and operating the data center on 5 hectares of land was confirmed, after which the companies decided to proceed to the joint venture's concretization phase. JFE and Mitsubishi will study the potential supply of green power by leveraging Ohgishima’s planned hydrogen hub to support the future demand for power from continued land use conversion and data center expansion.
[1] https://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/news/release/2026/20260406001.html
[USA] DOE announces funding for critical minerals processing and manufacturing
As of April 10, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy announced up to $500 million in funding aimed at strengthening domestic critical minerals and materials processing, battery manufacturing, and recycling capabilities. The initiative is focused on scaling supply chains for key minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite, which are essential inputs for batteries used in electric vehicles, grid-scale energy storage, and other electrified systems. The funding will be allocated through competitive programs that support projects across multiple stages of the supply chain, including raw materials processing, advanced manufacturing of battery components, and recycling systems to recover critical materials. The program is intended to reduce dependence on foreign supply sources, increase domestic production capacity, and support long-term resilience in energy and industrial supply chains, particularly as electricity demand growth continues to accelerate across transportation, grid storage, and electrified infrastructure.
[USA] Hitachi Energy announces new Power Electronics Center in North Carolina
As of April 10, 2026, Hitachi Energy announced a $10 million investment to establish a new Power Electronics Center of Competence in North Carolina. [1] The center will focus on the engineering, testing, and system integration of advanced power electronics used in transmission and distribution systems. According to Hitachi Energy these technologies are critical for maintaining grid stability, managing voltage fluctuations, and enabling higher penetration of renewable energy sources. The facility is also designed to support the growing electricity needs of large industrial loads, particularly data centers and electrified infrastructure, by improving the speed and reliability of grid interconnection processes. In addition to technical functions, the investment is expected to expand the company’s U.S. engineering and R&D presence, supporting collaboration with utilities, developers, and industrial customers on grid modernization and high-voltage equipment deployment.
[Japan] Japan-Indonesia joint conference to strengthen energy security cooperation
As of March 31, 2026, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae held a summit meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, in which they agreed to deepen economic ties and cooperation in energy security due to the growing uncertainty over oil and gas supplies from the Iran war. [1] Prime Minister Takaichi stated that “in light of the Iran situation, the strategic importance of resources and energy security is once again being recognized globally.” The two leaders agreed on advancing cooperation including geothermal power project and waste-to-energy under the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC). They also discussed cooperating for nuclear power, supply chain, LNG, especially since the Memoranda of Cooperation regarding critical minerals and nuclear energy were signed earlier in March 2026.
[1] https://japan.kantei.go.jp/105/diplomatic/202603/31indonesia.html
[USA] Large load tariffs grow prevalent as states regulate data centers actively
As of March 31, 2026, the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) Database of Emerging Large Load Tariffs indicated that state policymakers are looking to large load tariffs as a way to shield ratepayers from the surge in interconnection requests from data centers, with 77 tariffs pending or in place across 36 states. [1] In 2025, state regulators approved 29 large load tariffs, compared to 14 between 2018 and 2024. [2] The database has added 12 entries and 3 more states since it was last updated in November 2025. The definition of large load has evolved as the size of projects have grown; utilities used to define them using a threshold of five, 10, or 25 MW a few years ago, but now define them as 50 MW or more. These tariffs ask loads to pay more of the upfront costs for studies or power delivery infrastructure, minimum contract terms, minimum load guarantees, and more, in case a project falls through. Early evidence shows that although it is too soon to tell if tariffs are effective, they can eliminate speculative requests from the pipeline. AEP Ohio cut its large load forecast by over 50% after a large load tariff was approved in 2025 despite inflated data center demand.
[1] https://sepapower.org/large-load-tariffs-database/
[2] https://dis.puc.state.oh.us/CaseRecord.aspx?CaseNo=24-0508
[USA] Solar installations declined in 2025
As of March 31, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) found that solar developers installed 26.5 GW in 2025, down 22% from the 33.8 GW they installed the previous year in 2024. [1] Despite this, solar still led all other sources in 2025 installations. [2] According to FERC, solar makes up 12.2% of installed generating capacity in the US, behind natural gas at 42.2% and coal at 14.3%. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, solar installations remained largely the same year over year, but volumes fell by almost 40% in the fourth quarter. By the end of 2025, installations totaled just under 35 GW as many utility-scale projects were delayed into 2026 and 2027. FERC data suggests that natural gas added fewer units in 2025 at 84, compared with 122 the previous year, despite a 1.5 GW increase in installed capacity. Wind capacity grew with 5.7 GW of additions in 2025 compared to 4.5 GW the year before. No new nuclear capacity came online in 2025.
[1] https://cms.ferc.gov/media/energy-infrastructure-update-december-2025
[2] https://seia.org/research-resources/solar-market-insight-report-2025-year-in-review/
[World] Asia faces supply disruptions due to Iran war
As of late March 2026, the Iran war has upended the global LNG outlook, with the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz causing crude and oil product flows to plunge from 21 million barrels per day (mb/d) to 2 mb/d. Gulf countries have cut total oil production by more than 11 mb/d. [1] Natural gas prices in Asian markets have risen sharply since the start of the war, reflecting the region’s greater exposure to supply disruptions via the strait. [2] An estimated 12%-16% of global ethylene capacity and 20% of methanol capacity have been impacted by the war in Iran, according to S&P Global Energy. This has caused producers and governments to bolster the resilience of their supply chains, due to these restricted flows of ethylene, methanol, and other petrochemical feedstocks damaging global derivatives pricing. The International Energy Agency (IEA) asserts that the war, which began in late February, has caused the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market.
[1] https://www.iea.org/topics/the-middle-east-and-global-energy-markets?
[USA] DOE declares that emergencies requiring coal plants to run need not be imminent
The DOE’s May 23 2025 order directing Consumers Energy to continue running a coal plant in West Olive, Michigan, past retirement, faced challenges from Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, the Sierra Club, and other groups. [1] They contend that the DOE failed to show the Midcontinent region around the plant faces an energy emergency. In response, the DOE told a federal appeals court that the DOE secretary has broad authority under the Federal Power Act to declare emergencies to prevent power plants from retiring, and that they need not be imminent. [2] In a March 17 brief with the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, the DOE states that the statute’s text grants the secretary discretion to determine that an emergency exists. [3] In these orders, the DOE asserts that the power plants need to keep running to prevent blackouts in the face of rising electric demand. Under the Federal Power Act, the DOE has not allowed these orders to lapse, issuing new 90-day orders when the old ones expire.
[1] https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/27899615/doe202cbrief.pdf
[3] https://www.energy.gov/ceser/does-use-federal-power-act-emergency-authority
[USA] FERC rejects complaint over PJM interconnection practices
As of March 19, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rejected a complaint from RWE Clean Energy about how PJM Interconnection calculates and assigns interconnection upgrade costs for new power projects. [1] The case involved a solar and battery project in Maryland, where RWE argued that PJM’s study process led to unexpectedly high grid upgrade costs. FERC ruled that PJM followed its approved tariff rules, but it also noted that interconnection cost uncertainty remains a broader industry concern that can affect new generation projects trying to connect to the grid. In the same session, FERC reduced the allowed return on equity for transmission owners in New England under ISO New England, lowering it from 10.57% to 9.57%, which affects utilities like Eversource Energy. The commission also approved changes in the Midwest under Midcontinent Independent System Operator related to how certain emergency-related costs are shared across the grid.
[USA] Tesla and LG set to build $4.3 billion battery plant
As of March 16, 2026, Tesla and LG Energy Solution have reached a $4.3 billion agreement to build a new battery factory in Michigan. [1] The plant is expected to start operating around 2027 and will produce lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are widely used in large-scale energy storage systems. These batteries will mainly support Tesla’s energy storage products, which help store electricity and supply power when demand is high or when renewable generation is low. The deal is part of a broader effort to increase battery manufacturing in the United States and strengthen domestic supply chains. The agreement includes a multi-year supply commitment, with flexibility to adjust production volumes and extend the contract depending on future demand, and it focuses specifically on supplying batteries for Tesla’s energy storage business rather than its electric vehicles.
[USA] US to release 172 million barrels of oil from Strategic Petroleum Reserve
As of March 11, 2026, 32 members of the International Energy Agency (IEA) unanimously agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil and refined products from their reserves. [1] The Department of Energy has been authorized to begin releasing 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve starting March 16, 2026. The barrels will be released over the course of 120 days based on planned discharge rates. The IEA holds emergency stockpiles of more than 1.2 billion barrels of crude oils. The recent release of the barrels is designed to mitigate market impacts of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and the closure of commercial tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the IEA, an average of 20 million barrels per day of crude oil were transited through the Strait in 2025, and options for oil flows to bypass the route are limited.
[USA] US lifts sanctions on Russia due to oil market volatility
As of March 12, 2026, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) lifted US sanctions on Russian oil in order to mitigate global oil market volatility and avoid economic fallout from the war on Iran. Senate Democratic leaders issued a joint statement on the move, condemning the decision due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. [1] The license issued by OFAC to lift the sanctions also failed to account for the requirement to notify Congress 30 days in advance of taking the action, as specified by the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. [2] The license, entitled “General License 34,” provides a waiver for the temporary sale of Russian crude oil until April 11. This was the second significant rollback of the Ukraine war-related US sanctions, which aims to tame energy prices after US and Israeli strikes on Iran stopped shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
[Japan] Japan and Canada sign strategic agreement in defense and energy
As of March 6, 2026, the Prime Ministers of Canada and Japan released a joint statement on the Canada-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to adapt to the evolving geopolitical landscape and protect joint interests. [1] The two countries established a Canada-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Roadmap which will provide concrete direction for the cooperation. It prioritizes security and defense, economic security, supply chains and technology, trade and investment, energy security and food security, the Arctic, environment and climate cooperation, and academic and cultural exchanges. Listed strategic sectors for cooperation include clean energy, advanced manufacturing, critical minerals, and supply chains.
[USA] Senate Democrats restart permitting negotiations
As of March 4, 2026, Democratic senators stated that they would restart talks with Republicans to overhaul permitting regulations after the Trump administration began reviewing approvals for large-scale solar and wind projects. [1] In a statement, Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico said that after discussions with colleagues, they have decided to reopen negotiations on permitting reform. They state that moving forward, they expect “no further interference with already-permitted wind projects” and that the “initial movement [they’ve] seen on solar project permitting will accelerate, and other renewable projects will move forward as well.”