As of December 22, 2025, Senate Democrats ended permitting reform discussions after the Trump administration ordered work on all offshore wind farms under construction to halt, totaling 7 GW of power. [1] In a statement, Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., asserted that “attacks on fully permitting renewable energy projects must be reversed if there is to be any chance that permitting talks resume.” [2] The move comes after the US House of Representatives passed a permitting reform bill last week. The Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act, known as the SPEED Act, includes certainty provisions intended to prevent agencies from revisiting permits after they are issued. Regardless, the outlook for permitting reform was dim due to the Trump administration's efforts to stall renewable energy. Five projects are paused, including Vineyard Wind 1, Revolution Wind, CVOW, Sunrise Wind, and Empire Wind 1.
[USA] DOE orders Indiana coal-fired units to run past retirement
As of December 23, 2025, the US Department of Energy (DOE) ordered Northern Indiana Public Service Co. and CenterPoint Energy to continue three coal-fired units in Indiana, amounting to 950 MW, beyond their retirement at the end of the month. [1] DOE suggests that parts of the Midcontinent Independent System Operators face an emergency situation, according to studies by the grid operator. Additionally, recent capacity auction results indicate tightening supply conditions. [2] In its 90-day emergency orders, DOE stated that the emergency conditions resulting from increasing demand and a shortage caused by the accelerated retirement of generation facilities will likely continue in the near term and in subsequent years. A string of last-minute emergency orders under the Federal Power Act was issued to keep power plants in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Washington from retiring.
[1] https://www.energy.gov/documents/order-number-202-25-12-schahfer
[2] https://www.energy.gov/documents/order-number-202-25-13-culley
[USA] FERC concerned about PJM failure to meet reliability target
As of December 18, 2025, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) members raised concerns about PJM Interconnection’s failure to buy enough capacity to meet its reliability target in its recent auction. [1] In a media briefing, FERC Chairman Laura Swett stated that these market results suggest that, “we have to act to ensure that new supply is available to interconnect to PJM quickly enough to meet historically surging demand.” [2] On December 17th, 2025, PJM announced that it procured 145,777 MW in its latest capacity auction, falling 6,625 MW below the 20% installed reserve margin target. [3] The grid-operator failed to meet its reserve margin while also setting record-high prices for the third consecutive auction. According to PJM, several factors could close that shortfall by the time the auction’s capacity year starts in June 2027, but FERC Commissioner David Rosner found the failure to acquire enough capacity “unacceptable.” In a decision issued on December 18, 2025, FERC gave PJM until January 19 to file a report on the status of the proposals that were considered in the Critical Issue Fast Path stakeholder process on integrating large loads.
[2] https://www.ferc.gov/media/e-1-el25-49-000-0
[3] https://www.ferc.gov/media/press-conference-december-2025
[USA] House passes anti-offshore wind amendment to SPEED Act
As of December 18, 2025, the US House of Representatives passed permitting reform legislation, adding an amendment to the SPEED act that exempts offshore wind projects from being subject to parts of the bill. [1] The SPEED Act would amend the National Environmental Policy Act to ease and speed up the permitting process for energy projects. By introducing new deadlines for opposition to the projects, it requires opponents to make their claims no later than 150 days after the final agency action is made public. The offshore wind exception applies to issuance, modification, approval, or administration of any lease, easement, right-of-way, site assessment plan, construction and operations plan, or any other such authorization. The amendment was introduced by New Jersey representatives Reps. Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., as well as Maryland’s Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md.
[1] https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4776/text
[Japan] JERA signs first long-term LNG supply agreement with Torrent Power
As of December 8, 2025, JERA announced the signing of its first long-term LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) to supply LNG outside Japan with India’s utility company, Torrent Power. [1] JERA will supply four LNG cargoes a year under the agreement, or 270,000 tons per annum. The supply will occur for a period of ten years starting in 2027. The LNG procured under this agreement will be used by Torrent to operate its 2,730 MW portfolio of combined cycle Gas-Based power plants in India. The partnership aims to leverage the complementary seasonal demand patterns of Japan and India, where JERA will optimize utilization of its global fleet during low-demand by supplying to Torrent during India’s high-demand windows. JERA intends to continue building an LNG portfolio across the Middle East, Asia, and the United States, while expanding its LNG sales footprint into the Asian markets.
[1] https://www.jera.co.jp/en/news/information/20251208_2324
[USA] EIA lowers power generation forecast for 2026
As of December 9, 2025, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) cut its 2026 electricity generation growth forecast by 1.3% from last month due to “how much large load electricity demand has come online so far this year,” especially in Texas, according to the Short-Term Energy Outlook report. EIA projects generation to grow by 2.4% this year and 1.7% next year, with US generation reaching 4,327 billion kWh in 2026, down from the 4,382 billion kWh estimate from November. [1] Last month, the EIA expected US electricity generation to grow by 3% in 2026. Much of the projected growth originates from grids managed by the PJM Interconnection and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), with total downward revision being driven by changes in ERCOT’s projected demand growth. The EIA revised its forecast of ERCOT growth rates since November, shrinking its projections from 6% to 5% in 2025 and from 15.7% to 9.6% in 2026.
[USA] Creekstone Energy to Evaluate nuclear power Options for world’s largest data center campus in Utah
As of December 11, 2025, Creekstone Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with Utah-based EnergySolutions to evaluate potential nuclear power options to support long-term clean energy needs at the Utah Creekstone Gigasite’s planned data center campus and other potential locations. [1] The 20-million-square-foot campus, known as “Gigasite,” could become the world’s largest data center campus. Creekstone plans to manage 10 gigawatts of capacity at the site from three primary sources, including the Intermountain Power Project, solar capacity, and natural gas. Future additions for consideration may include geothermal, wind, and nuclear. The agreement outlines a structured process to study the feasibility of integrating at least two gigawatts of next-generation nuclear capacity. Multiple nuclear technologies will be evaluated, including large-scale and small modular reactors (SMRs), of different designs. If the partners decide to pursue nuclear development, initial operation would likely land between 2030 and 2035.
[1] https://www.creekstone.energy/news/press-releases/2025-12-11-energysolutions-nuclear-partnership
[Japan] JERA partners with Newlab New Orleans to advance low-concentration CO2 capture technologies
As of December 3, 2025, JERA has entered a partnership with Newlab New Orleans, a startup platform focused on the critical technologies for energy and industry of the Gulf South. [1] The partnership aims to accelerate next-generation carbon capture technologies designed for low-concentration CO2 emissions. Newlab is a global venture platform supporting the development of new technologies through infrastructure and partnerships. Newlab New Orleans is the organization’s public-private innovation hub in Louisiana, which provides a unique environment to test and deploy early-stage technologies. Although Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has advanced significantly, capturing CO2 from lower-concentration sources remains a complex challenge. Combined Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGT) produce low-CO2 emissions, making conventional capture methods costly and inefficient. JERA and Newlab New Orleans have launched a program to evaluate, test, and advance startups under conditions representative of real industrial emissions. They will select a group of Point Source Capture startups and identify one technology for deeper development and commercialization in 2026.
[1] https://www.jera.co.jp/en/news/information/20251203_2322
[USA] Hurricanes in 2024 were the leading cause of lengthy power outages in the US
As of December 1, 2025, an Energy Information Administration (EIA) report found that Americans lost more power last year than any year in the previous decade. [1] US electricity customers experienced an average of 11 hours of power outages in 2024, which is almost twice as many as the annual average across the previous decade. [2] The leading cause for 80% of those hours were hurricanes, with major ones like Beryl, Helene, and Milton causing most of last year’s outages. The report builds on a growing body of evidence that extreme weather is taking a heavier toll on the electric power system in certain parts of the country. An October report by JD Power found that the average length of the longest outages has increased. Hurricane Helene especially caused severe damage to utility systems in the US Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida faced strong winds and flooding from the hurricane that affected transmission and distribution power lines, as well as substations, leading to prolonged power outages. In contrast, customers in Arizona, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Massachusetts experienced less than two hours of service interruptions on average in 2024.
[USA] North Carolina leaders examine data center boom and Duke Energy rate hike
As of December 2, 2025, North Carolina’s state Energy Policy Task Force met to examine how rapid load growth from data centers and new industries could strain the grid, as rising power bills have become a cause for concern. [1] Governor Josh Stein, who formed the task force, opposed Duke Energy’s proposed rate hike of 15% over the next two years. [2] The task force meeting focused on how other states are responding to the data center boom now affecting North Carolina. [3] Luke Wilson, executive director of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, stated that his state expects peak demand to rise by 60% by the 2030s, mainly driven by data centers. Indiana’s new rules require large load users to cover most of the cost of the new generation built to serve them. Virginia State Corporation Commission member Kelsey Baggett stated that Virginia has seen hundreds of data center projects queue up for grid access, prompting regulators to create a separate electric rate class so big-tech users pay their share. Under North Carolina’s current structure, residential customers shoulder a greater share of the cost while large commercial customers pay less. The task force is expected to deliver recommendations in February on this issue.
[2] https://www.duke-energy.com/home/billing/dec-nc-rate-case
[3] https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S266v0.pdf
[USA] FERC approves Amazon data center transmission agreement
As of November 21, 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved a transmission service agreement between the Exelon utility PECO Energy and Amazon Data Services. The agreement outlined how Amazon will pay for grid upgrades necessary to supply power to a planned data center in Pennsylvania. [1] FERC rejected a call by the PJM Interconnection’s market monitor Monitoring Analytics to assess how the data center’s could affect capacity and energy costs for ratepayers and grid reliability, suggesting that it was outside the scope of the proceeding. [2] In its decision, FERC said that the agreement met the Mobile-Sierra presumption, under which FERC must presume that freely negotiated contracts between independent parties are just and reasonable unless the rates seriously harm the public.
[USA] DOE interconnection proposal sparks concerns over federal-state jurisdiction
As of November 21, 2025, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that under the Federal Power Act, states have jurisdiction over retail load interconnections regardless of their size, as well as “end-use” electricity sales. [1] This comes after the Department of Energy’s (DOE) proposal sparked major jurisdictional concerns among federal regulators about setting rules for interconnecting data centers and other large loads to the transmission system. [2] NARUC asserted that regulating end-user load interconnections is outside FERC jurisdiction, in response to the DOE’s request that the commission set interconnection rules for large loads. [3] State regulators also raised concerns about who would take responsibility for reliability concerns if FERC’s jurisdiction expanded. The PJM Interconnection emphasized that directing regional transmission organizations and independent system operators to develop large-load interconnection queues could cause litigation and uncertainty over litigation issues. Midcontinent Independent System Operator told FERC that adopting a standardized large load interconnection procedures could negate the existing state-driven interconnection processes and ongoing work.
[Japan] Niigata governor approves TEPCO’s first nuclear reactor restart since Fukushima
As of November 21, 2025, Niigata Governor Hideo Hanazumi agreed to the restart of a nuclear reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa power plant, the first for operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) since the 2011 Fukushima accident. [1] A public opinion survey conducted in the summer of 2025 revealed that the safety and disaster prevention measures at the plant are not sufficiently recognized by residents of Niigata prefecture. According to the survey, younger generations between the ages of 20-30 tend to be more supportive of restarting the plant compared to older generations. The issue of how to approach the potential restart of the plant has been a long-standing concern for residents as opinions are very divided. The governor has stated that if he receives approval from the assembly to continue serving as governor, he will report the move to the national government, thereby ending the process of obtaining local consent. The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) cleared both the No. 6 and No. 7 reactors following safety reviews in 2017. The governor has insisted that the plant is considered necessary to abide by the national policy that is advancing the use of nuclear power generation for its stability, self-sufficiency, and ability to address vulnerabilities in Japan’s power supply structure.
[1] https://www.pref.niigata.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/471705.pdf
[USA] New FERC commissioners discuss FERC priorities at first open meeting
As of November 20, 2025, newly appointed Chair Laura Swett and Commissioner David LaCerte stated that bringing data centers to support artificial intelligence online is their top priority for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). [1] Swett emphasized that in addition to keeping the lights on for all Americans, her priority is to ensure that data centers are connected and powered as quickly as possible. [2] Commissioner LaCerte suggested that the AI data race required bold action to protect the economy and national security. FERC is considering a proposal from the US Department of Energy (DOE) for new rules dictating the interconnection of data centers and other large loads to the grid. LaCerte asserted that action on data centers must be balanced with maintaining affordable electricity. LaCerte stated that keeping ratepayers in mind in all deliberations is essential, while also ensuring that energy companies don’t face unnecessary obstacles that hinder their efforts.
[1] https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/events/november-20-2025-open-meeting-10022024
[2] https://pubs.naruc.org/pub/2C526A94-D533-BE0A-336A-178A366C7A91
[USA] DOE closes $1B loan to restart Three Mile Island nuclear unit
As of November 18, 2025, the US Department of Energy (DOE) closed on a $1 billion loan to restart Constellation Energy’s 835 MW Crane nuclear unit in Pennsylvania. [1] Constellation intends to sell power produced from the unit to Microsoft. Inspections of key parts of the unit, formerly Three Mile Island Unit 1, and regulatory reviews are on schedule. [2] The company expects to spend about $1.6 billion to restart the unit, possibly as soon as 2027. Under the agreement, Constellation can borrow up to $1 billion through September 15, 2030. The company must pay the loan back by November 2055. The loan is part of the administration’s effort to promote nuclear power. This marks the first project to receive a concurrent conditional commitment and financial close under the current administration, according to DOE Secretary Chris Wright.
[USA] Electricity prices will continue to rise in the coming year
As of November 12, 2025, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its latest short-term energy outlook that overall US wholesale electricity prices are expected to continue rising next year in 2026. [1] The forecast of the load-weighted average of the 11 regional wholesale prices is $47/MWh in 2025, which is 23% higher than the 2024 average. It is expected to reach $51/MWh in 2026, another 8.5% increase. The main driver of the wholesale prices next year is a predicted 45% increase at the Electric Reliability Council of Texas-North pricing hub. The EIA stated that although natural gas prices tend to be the biggest determinant of power prices, the increase in power prices in ERCOT in the coming year reflect large hourly spikes in summer months from high demand and low supply in the region. The report states that the increases in Texas and nearby states contribute 34% of the growth in US electricity sales in 2025 and 66% of growth in sales in 2026.
[USA] Former FERC commissioners urge Supreme Court to uphold agency independence
As of November 13, 2025, a bipartisan group of 11 former commissioners at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) told the Supreme Court that the Humphrey’s Executor precedent providing tenure protection to members of independent agencies should be upheld. [1] In an amicus brief, the former energy regulators stated that if the court decides to overturn or modify the precedent, it should specify that ratemaking commissions like FERC would not be affected. According to the brief, a court decision that would allow a president to fire FERC commissioners without cause and replace them with party-aligned members would threaten the US economy. The former commissioners stated that eliminating for-cause removal protections would expose energy investors to political uncertainty and policy volatility. Rates set by FERC help finance $40 billion in new pipelines and power lines annually. The court is set to hear oral arguments in the case on December 8.
[Japan] Japan investment in US increases exponentially
As of October 28, 2025, the US signed a critical minerals agreement with Japan, and deepened US-Japan cooperation in trade, supply chain resilience, and energy security, among other areas. [1] President Trump and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signed the US-Japan Framework Agreement in which Japanese companies outline their investment plans In American critical energy infrastructure, AI infrastructure, electronics, and supply chain, critical minerals, manufacturing, and more. [2] The critical minerals agreement primarily aims to diversify the critical minerals supply chain and review inbound investment and address risks from outbound investments. In the way of energy security, Tokyo Gas and JERA announced letters of intent with Glenfarne for LNG offtake from a pipeline set to be constructed in Alaska. JERA also announced an investment in Louisiana’s Haynesville Shale basin. Global Coal Sales Group announced a multi-year deal with Tohoku Electric Power for US-sourced thermal coal. The US and Japan also signed an MOC for a US-Japan Technology Prosperity Deal to cooperate on AI adoption and innovation. Additional areas of collaboration include research security, quantum information science and technology, fusion energy, and more.
[1] https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/10/28195/
[2] https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2025/10/20251028002/20251028002-a.pdf
[USA] Xcel to build large battery energy storage site at Sherco plant
As of October 31, 2025, Xcel Energy asked Minnesota regulators for permission to double the battery storage capacity at a location adjacent to its coal-fired Sherco power plant which is slated to retire by the end of 2030. [1] The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has already approved 300 MW to be installed at the plant. [2] Xcel is proposing to increase that capacity to 600 MW, making it the largest battery storage site in the upper Midwest. It would also add another 135.5 MW at the company’s Blue Lake facility and expand the Sherco Solar facility with an additional 200 MW. Xcel plans to begin construction on the battery storage projects in 2026, bringing them online in late 2027. They will use lithium iron phosphate battery cell technology that discharge energy in four-hour increments and are quick to recharge, allowing for regular use.
[1] https://puc.eip.mn.gov/web/project/25319?
[2] https://newsroom.xcelenergy.com/news/xcel-energy-to-build-upper-midwests-largest-battery-storage-site?
[USA] US installed 26 GW of new capacity in 8 month span
As of October 30, 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) infrastructure report stated that the US installed almost 26 GW of new generation capacity between January and August 2025. [1] The number is up slightly from 23 GW over the same period last year. Solar has continued to dominate new generation resources for most of the past two years now, accounting for 2.7 GW of 4 GW brought online in August alone. The report mentions that FERC also reissued a certificate for Williams Companies to construct and operate its Northeast Supply Enhancement Project. The expansion of the Transco gas pipeline between New Jersey and New York was revived following talks between President Donald Trump and Governor Kathy Hochul in May after the administration froze the Empire Wind project briefly. The White House and the wind project developer have stated that there was a gas-for-wind deal involved, while Hochul has denied striking any bargain.
[1] https://cms.ferc.gov/media/energy-infrastructure-update-august-2025