As of June 10, 2026, PETRONAS and JERA signed a new long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply agreement that will extend their partnership into the 2040s. Under the agreement, JERA will purchase up to 2 million tonnes of LNG annually for 20 years beginning in 2028. [1] The LNG will be supplied primarily from PETRONAS’ portfolio in Malaysia, strengthening a commercial relationship that has existed for more than four decades. The agreement builds on a partnership that began in 1983 and reflects continued cooperation between one of Asia’s largest LNG producers and Japan’s largest power generation company. It follows a memorandum of understanding signed in 2025 to expand collaboration across the LNG value chain. PETRONAS stated that the deal supports the evolution of LNG contracting toward greater flexibility, while maintaining long-term supply commitments that provide certainty for both suppliers and buyers. Both companies highlighted the role of LNG in supporting energy security and facilitating the energy transition. JERA noted that the agreement will enhance its ability to secure stable fuel supplies and respond to changing demand conditions, while PETRONAS emphasized the importance of reliable LNG supply for customers across Asia. The deal also reinforces Malaysia’s position as a major LNG exporter to Japan and underscores the continued importance of long-term LNG contracts in the region’s energy landscape.
[USA] Largest wind farm in US begins operations
As of June 12, 2026, the SunZia Wind Project in New Mexico has begun commercial operations, becoming the largest wind farm in the United States. [1] The project has 3,650 MW of generating capacity from 916 turbines, more than tripling the size of the next two largest U.S. wind farms. Developed by Pattern Energy, SunZia was nearly two decades in the making and is paired with a 550-mile transmission line that delivers electricity from New Mexico to Arizona and California. The project nearly doubles New Mexico's wind capacity, increasing wind's share of the state's generating capacity to 45%. Most of SunZia's electricity will be exported to western markets, helping support growing regional demand for renewable energy. Shortly after the project came online, California recorded a new hourly wind generation record, highlighting the growing impact of large-scale wind development in the western United States.
[USA] Solar overtakes coal generation in US for the first time
As of June 10, 2026, solar overtook coal generation in the US electricity mix in May 2026, according to monthly and preliminary hourly generation data analyzed by think tank Ember. [1] Solar supplies a record 12.8% of US electricity, while coal fell to 12.2%, its fourth-lowest recorded monthly share. Solar generated an all-time high of 45.5 TWh in May 2026, exceeding May 2025 by 17% and surpassing a record set in July 2025. Coal generation hit an all-time monthly low of 39.3 TWh in April 2026. The overall share of coal generation in the US has nearly halved in the last five years, falling from 19.7% in May 2021 to 12.2% in May 2026. In contrast, solar power’s share of the mix more than doubled from 5.4% to 12.8% over the same period. This record succeeds another clean power milestone from March 2026, when renewables collectively generated more electricity than gas for the first time in the US. Together, these records underscore the growth of clean power in the US electricity mix despite the current policy environment.
[Japan] METI proposes rebuilding aging nuclear plants to meet power demand
As of June 5, 2026, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) proposed rebuilding two to five aging nuclear reactors by the 2040s, potentially 11 to 14 by the 2050s to maintain a stable electricity supply as existing reactors reach the end of their operating lives. [1] The proposal, presented at a government nuclear policy meeting, would add roughly 16 gigawatts of generating capacity and represents the first time the Japanese government has established concrete long-term reactor replacement targets. The proposal reflects Japan’s broader shift toward maximizing nuclear power use following revisions to its national energy strategy. After the 2011 Fukushima accident, all 54 reactors were shut down; today, only 15 of the 33 operable units have resumed operation. At the same time, many reactors are approaching or exceeding the 60-year operating threshold, raising concerns that restarts alone will be insufficient to sustain nuclear generation over the long term. Under Japan’s current energy plan, nuclear power is expected to provide around 20% of the country’s electricity by fiscal 2040, roughly double its recent share. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has strongly supported expanded nuclear generation as a means of strengthening energy security and reducing dependence on imported coal, liquefied natural gas, and oil, which still account for most of Japan’s electricity production.
[1] https://www.meti.go.jp/shingikai/enecho/denryoku_gas/genshiryoku/049.html
[USA] Constellation’s restart of Three Mile Island receives FERC waiver
As of June 4, 2026, federal regulators gave a significant boost to Constellation Energy’s effort to restart the former Three Mile Island Unit 1 reactor, now renamed the Crane Clean Energy Center. [1] The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved a waiver allowing Constellation to transfer grid interconnection rights from its retiring Eddystone fossil-fuel plant to the nuclear facility. Without the waiver, delayed transmission upgrades in the PJM region could have prevented the plant from fully delivering power until 2030–2031, jeopardizing Constellation’s target to restart the reactor in the second half of 2027. FERC concluded that the waiver addressed a concrete reliability problem and met the agency’s standards for granting relief. Under the decision, Constellation will be able to transfer 760 MW of Capacity Interconnection Rights (CIRs) from the Eddystone plant to Crane, increasing the amount of electricity the nuclear unit can deliver to the grid. Constellation has a 20-year deal to sell all the energy, capacity, and clean energy attributes from the nuclear unit to Microsoft for data centers across PJM’s Mid-Atlantic and Midwest footprint.
[Japan] Bank of Japan’s Ueda warns of a temporary energy shock
As of May 27, 2026, Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda warned that central banks should not look at oil prices in isolation because energy price shocks initially viewed as temporary can become persistent sources of inflation if they define pricing-setting, household inflation expectations, and wage negotiations. [1] In a speech analyzing historical oil shocks, he argued that the economic effects of energy disruptions depend heavily on the surrounding inflation environment and policy response. He asserted that when inflation expectations are already high and wages are accelerating, the risk of second-round effects is large. While some oil shocks produced only temporary inflationary spikes, others generated prolonged inflation when second-round effects spread through the broader economy. Ueda emphasized that central banks must closely monitor whether firms and households begin to expect sustained inflation rather than treating energy-driven price increases as isolated events. The remarks come as surging oil prices from the Middle East conflict add to inflationary pressure in Japan’s economy, prompting the bank to emphasize the signals that lead markets to expect an interest rate hike as early as within a month.
[1] https://www.boj.or.jp/en/about/press/koen_2026/data/ko260527a1.pdf
[USA] MISO resists complaints over competitive transmission bidding from utilities
As of May 28, 2026, a major dispute is unfolding at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission over whether incumbent utilities should retain exclusive rights to build regional transmission lines in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator and Southwest Power Pool regions. [1] Utilities including Entergy and Xcel Energy argue that competitive bidding processes required under FERC Order 1000 delay urgently needed transmission projects by 16–20 months, especially as electricity demand surges from AI data centers and manufacturing expansion. [2] MISO pushed back in a May 27 filing, saying the delays are overstated and that competitive projects represent only a limited subset of transmission buildouts. [3] [4] The National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates warned that eliminating competition would undermine consumer protections embedded in FERC Order 1000, while groups such as the Solar Energy Industries Association and independent developer Invenergy argued that utilities are attempting to reestablish monopoly control over transmission development.
[Japan] Japan-ROK agree to coordinate on energy security, supply chain, and more
As of May 19, 2026, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung agreed to deepen Japan-ROK coordination on energy security, supply chains, and regional deterrence amid growing geopolitical instability in the Indo-Pacific and Middle East. [1] The leaders launched a new bilateral cooperation initiative focused on securing energy supply chains, including petroleum products and LNG, under the framework of the updated “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” strategy and the “POWERR Asia” initiative announced last month. The agreement includes plans to strengthen regional energy stockpiling and explore mutual crude oil, petroleum product, and LNG supply swaps between Japan and South Korea. The two sides also emphasized cooperation on critical mineral supply chains, economic security, and trilateral coordination with the United States, while reaffirming joint positions on North Korea and broader Indo-Pacific stability.
[1] https://japan.kantei.go.jp/105/diplomatic/202605/19rok.html
[USA] EIA: AI driving record US electricity demand through 2029
As of May 19, 2026, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Today in Energy highlighted how accelerating electricity demand from AI and data centers is reshaping U.S. power markets and generation planning. The agency noted that U.S. electricity consumption is expected to reach new record highs through 2027, with commercial-sector demand increasingly driven by hyperscale computing facilities. EIA forecasts show renewables continuing to expand rapidly, but natural gas generation is also expected to remain elevated as utilities respond to rising baseload needs and transmission bottlenecks tied to data-center growth. The issue is becoming especially acute in regions such as PJM and ERCOT, where grid operators are warning about higher capacity prices, interconnection delays, and infrastructure constraints linked to large new loads. Industry discussions around the report have increasingly focused on whether data-center developers should directly finance dedicated generation and transmission assets rather than relying on broader ratepayer-supported grid expansion.
[USA] NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy to combine
As of May 18, 2026, NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy announced a merger, creating the world’s largest regulated electric utility by market capitalization. [1] In a $67 billion deal, NextEra acquired Dominion Energy, a merger that required both federal and state approvals from Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Residential electricity rates have risen 7.4% in February 2026 compared to the year before, with a 12.2% spike in Virginia. [2] In a press release, NextEra’s CEO John Ketchum stated that the larger scale and efficiencies gained from merging would translate into more “affordable electricity for [their] customers in the long run,” proposing to provide Dominion Energy customers in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina with $2.25 billion in bill credits over two years. The combined company will be more than 80% regulated and serve roughly 10 million utility customers across Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
[2] https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_a&
[Japan] Hitachi and X LABS collaborate on energy parks for AI data centers in North America
As of May 12, 2026, Hitachi and X LABS announced a collaboration to develop dedicated energy parks designed as behind-the-meter power supply hubs with co-located, gigawatt (GW)-scale infrastructure for AI data center off-takers in North America. [1] An energy park is an on-sit power supply hub integrating power with storage facilities, transmission and distribution (T&D) infrastructure, and energy manage systems. The parks serve as the primary power source while coordinating with the regional power grid, allowing for controllable, large-scale power procurement without needing to wait for grid reinforcement. The two partners aim to provide the full lifecycle of energy parks from design and development to operation and power supply. This is intended to create an environment where data center operators can secure stable power necessary for business expansion without undergoing large upfront capital investments or managing complex energy operations.
[USA] Electricity generation from solar to exceed coal in ERCOT in 2026
As of May 13, 2026, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasted in their Short-Term Energy Outlook that annual electric power generation from utility-scale solar will surpass that from coal for the first time in 2026 within the grid that spans most of Texas. [1] Solar generation is expected to reach 78 billion kilowatthours (BkWh) in 2026 in the electricity grid operated by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) compared with 60 BkWh for coal. Solar capacity additions have steadily been contributing to meeting electricity demand growth in ERCOT. While natural gas is still the dominant source, solar’s share of the generation mix has increased from 4% to 12% between 2021 and 2025, with coal’s share decreasing from 19% to 13% during the same period. The EIA expects approximately 40% of total solar capacity additions in the US in 2026 to occur in Texas. This year, the largest solar photovoltaic project that will come online in 2026 will be in Texas. The solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) combination project Tehuacana Creek 1 Solar and BESS is 837 megawatts (MW).
[USA] FERC Chairman addresses PJM's legitimacy crisis and governance flaws
As of May 12, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Laura Swett spoke at PJM’s Annual Meeting, addressing the legitimacy crisis in the grid operator’s decision-making. [1] She asserted that the operator may be “too big to function,” with an “unacceptable” governance structure, with confidence in its decision-making having “completely eroded.” Swett stated that the 13 states in PJM and the District of Columbia have “fundamentally different regulatory structures, resource portfolios and politics,” with some states relying on competitive markets and others having utilities that own power plants. Despite this, FERC expects PJM to run power markets in a fair and efficient manner, “maintain reliability through extreme weather, shifting fuel mixes, and rapid technological change.” When describing its governance process, Swett suggested that the current stakeholder process is “slow where it must be fast, opaque where it must be transparent, and vulnerable to vetoes and agenda control exactly when the region needs immediate action.” Swett announced that FERC would hold a conference on July 23 to identify the flaws in PJM’s governance process, along with solutions to fix them.
[Japan] Australia-Japan Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation
As of May 4, 2026, Australia and Japan signed a Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation that expands bilateral coordination across energy security, critical minerals, and strategic supply chains, reinforcing both countries’ efforts to build more resilient resource partnerships amid growing geopolitical and market uncertainty. [1] The agreement commits the two governments to deepen cooperation on stable energy supplies, including LNG and next-generation low-emissions technologies such as hydrogen and decarbonization systems, while also accelerating collaboration on critical minerals development and processing, particularly in areas essential to clean energy manufacturing and advanced industrial supply chains. Supporting official statements highlight plans to align policy frameworks, facilitate public and private investment, and advance joint projects that reduce dependence on concentrated supply sources, positioning the partnership as a broader economic security framework that links energy resilience, industrial competitiveness, and regional strategic stability across the Indo-Pacific.
[1] https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/australia-japan-joint-declaration-economic-security-cooperation
[USA] NERC issues Level 3 alert over computational load risks
As of May 4, 2026, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) issued a rare Level 3 alert – the highest level – after several instances of data centers unexpectedly dropping load or oscillating demand. NERC’s alert, entitled “Level 3 Essential Action Alert, Computational Load Modeling, Studies, Instrumentation, Commissioning, Operations, Protection, and Control,” outlines seven actions registered entities must implement to address the immediate risks posed by computational loads interfacing with the bulk power system (BPS). [1] This mandate applies to transmission planners, operators, system planners, and balancing authorities, among others. The alert was issued as NERC observed customer-initiated large load reductions and major oscillations occurring in a span of seconds, leaving no room for real-time responses and threatening reliability. In a previous Level 2 alert, NERC discussed recommended practices deemed necessary to address emerging risks from large loads. In response to this alert, NERC found that entities generally did not have sufficient processes, procedures, or methods to address risks associated with computational loads.
[1] https://www.nerc.com/globalassets/programs/bpsa/alerts/level-3-computational-load-alert.pdf
[Japan] Prime Minister Takaichi’s message for the 11th Three Seas Initiative Summit
As of April 29, 2026, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a message from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for the 11th Three Seas Initiative (3SI) Summit in Dubrovnik, emphasizing that stable energy supply and resilient supply chains are essential for regional peace and economic stability amid global uncertainty. [1] The statement highlighted the growing importance of strengthening north–south connectivity across Central and Eastern Europe—particularly in energy, infrastructure, and digital sectors—and noted alignment between the 3SI framework and Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” principles, including rule of law, openness, and inclusiveness. Japan reaffirmed its role as a strategic partner (since 2024) and its intention to deepen cooperation with participating countries across these sectors, signaling continued engagement in European energy and infrastructure development corridors.
[1] https://www.mofa.go.jp/erp/erp_2/hr/pageite_000001_01605.html
[USA] House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing on grid and AI
As of April 29, 2026, the House Energy & Commerce Committee held a hearing about rising energy demand, serving data centers and large loads, and ensuring affordability for ratepayers. [1] According to Duke Energy’s Senior Vice President for Grid Strategy, Planning, and Integration, large new electricity customers, if integrated into the grid responsibly, present economic development opportunities and can limit rate growth by spreading the fixed costs of the grid across a larger base. Muse Energy President Whitney Muse suggested that grid investment in new capacity is critical to meeting demand amid impending load growth and bill pressures. In contrast, Ranking Member Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) framed the hearing as an opportunity to “squeeze more out of the existing grid” through grid-enhancing technologies, virtual power plants (VPPs), and demand flexibility. A notable point of disagreement was the Fair Allocation of Interstate Rates Act, which would prohibit grid operators from allocating to one state the costs of transmission projects driven by another state’s energy policies. Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.), Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas), and Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) each raised concerns about the bill’s broad definition of “covered policy,” which could capture state policies unrelated to renewable energy mandates, including grid resilience plans for hurricane-prone states. Muse Energy testified that the Act would make it much harder to build interregional transmission, potentially including state and local land use, resilience, and economic development under its broad definition. Overall, utilities were concerned with the need for clear cost allocation rules, while Democratic lawmakers worried that the rules could block projects or shift costs unfairly.
[USA] Over 800 new generation projects seek to connect under PJM’s reformed interconnection process
As of April 29, 2026, PJM Interconnection announced that 811 new generation projects worth 220 GW have applied to connect to the grid through the Cycle of PJM’s reformed interconnection process. [1] This is the first major intake to improve the certainty and speed of project review using a redesigned approach. PJM is beginning a validation phase to confirm which projects have submitted the required technical and financial information to move forward. The projects entering the queue include 106 GW of gas-fired generation, 67 GW of storage, 18 GW of nuclear, 15 GW of solar, 9 GW solar-storage hybrid and 5 GW of wind. As part of the reformed process, PJM expects to complete the project reviews in one to two years, depending on the project, by using the AI-enabled tool ‘HyperQ,’ developed by Google’s Tapestry. However, despite having 103 GW of signed interconnection agreements since 2020, many of the projects are either “not being built at all or are being slowed by hurdles such as state permitting and supply chain backlogs,” PJM warns.
[Japan] Japan and Mexico agree to cooperate amid energy crisis
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