As of September 11, 2026, Petronas and the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) signed an agreement establishing a framework for future LNG supply arrangements between the two parties. [1] The agreement is intended to provide greater flexibility for future LNG transactions while taking into account Japan’s energy security and Malaysia’s domestic supply needs. JOGMEC, which operates under Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), supports Japan’s access to stable energy and natural resource supplies. The agreement builds on Petronas’ more than four decades of LNG supply relationship with Japan and provides a framework for responding to future changes in LNG demand and supply conditions.
[USA] West Virginia PSC denies delay in NextEra transmission project review
As of September 9, 2026, the West Virginia Public Service Commission rejected a request to delay evidentiary proceedings for NextEra Energy Transmission’s 107.5-mile MidAtlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) transmission project, keeping hearings scheduled for October 26–November 2. [1] PJM selected the 500-kV project in 2023 to address emerging grid needs, but regulators are reviewing questions about the line’s route, its continued need, and the potential effect of a recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) order strengthening large-load interconnection rules. NextEra agreed to the proposed delay but maintained that MARL remains necessary and should be unaffected by the FERC order because it is a PJM regional transmission expansion project rather than a network upgrade tied to a specific data-center interconnection.
[USA] Google, Xcel, and utilities support MISO large-load proposal
As of September 9, 2026, Google, Xcel Energy, and other utilities and clean-energy groups supported the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)’s proposed “Zero Injection Generator Interconnection Agreement,” which would create a 90-day review process for generation projects that serve large loads at the same substation and voltage level, including colocated data centers, when the generation has little or no transmission-system impact. [1] The proposal would limit eligible generation to the amount of load it serves and generally prohibit network upgrades beyond the substation, while MISO develops additional processes for large-load additions. Google supported the proposal but asked MISO to expand it to configurations where generation and load are connected through two substations. Environmental groups opposed the proposal, arguing that insufficient safeguards could shift costs to existing customers and create reliability concerns.
[Japan] Hitachi and Bloom Energy collaborate to target data center power gap in Japan
As of September 1, 2026, Hitachi and Bloom Energy announced a collaboration to deploy on-site fuel cell power systems for data centers and industrial facilities in Japan. [1] The companies are targeting growing electricity demand from AI-driven data center expansion as well as energy-intensive industries such as semiconductor manufacturing. The systems would generate electricity near the point of consumption, reducing reliance on existing grid capacity and potentially allowing facilities to add power without waiting for grid infrastructure expansions. The companies previously tested Bloom’s fuel cells with Hitachi’s control systems at Hitachi’s Omika Works in Ibaraki, demonstrating remote control of power output and monitoring of system operations. The fuel cells can operate on natural gas, biogas, or hydrogen, with emissions depending on the fuel used. Hitachi and Bloom said the systems could also provide backup power and improve energy resilience for industrial facilities.
[1] https://www.hitachi.com/content/dam/hitachi/global/en/press/files/2026/09/260901b.pdf
[USA] Trump signs executive order to block certain foreign-made equipment from grid
As of August 26, 2026, Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency and restricting certain transactions involving foreign-made equipment to the bulk power system, including transformers, batteries, inverters, and associated software and digital products. The order also considers the replacement of installed equipment, allowing the Secretary of Energy to “impose conditions on the continued use, operation, maintenance, servicing, or updating of foreign-manufactured or operated bulk-power system electric equipment acquired or installed before the date of this order.” The EO focuses on “transactions involving foreign nationals that pose an undue risk of sabotage, unauthorized access, or other disruption,” according to a fact sheet, and is aimed at non-distribution level equipment.
[1] https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/declaring-a-national-emergency-to-secure-the-united-states-bulk-power-system/?_sp=d2526746-0731-43ab-8856-607debe38a73.1788365429182
[USA} MISO proposes reliability requirements for large loads
As of August 18, 2026, the Midcontinent System Operator (MISO) proposed a set of requirements for large loads to connect to the grid, including ramping and ride-through specifications. [1] The framework, known as “interconnection reliability requirements,” is intended to improve MISO’s visibility into large load characteristics and behavior, support reliable planning and operational decision-making, and establish technically justified expectations that are proportional to the reliability risk. The proposal is part of MISO’s response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) show-cause orders requiring major grid operators to define rules that meet criteria for adding data centers and other large loads to the grid. MISO has announced that it plans to make more proposals by November. MISO’s proposal defines large loads as those larger than 50 MW and “computational loads” as those larger than 25 MW of demand from information technology equipment, such as servers, storage, and networking hardware.
[Japan] Japan diversifying crude supply and supporting pipelines to bypass Hormuz
As of August 26, 2026, Japan announced measures to strengthen energy security by diversifying crude oil supplies and supporting Middle Eastern pipeline projects that could provide routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz. [1] About 94% of Japan’s crude oil imports came from the Middle East in 2025, making disruptions to the region and the Strait of Hormuz a significant supply risk. The government plans to provide financial support for bypass pipelines through JOGMEC and is considering measures to help companies manage the higher costs of sourcing oil through alternative routes. Other measures under consideration include reinsurance for oil tankers and additional naphtha reserves, as well as greater use of nuclear power and renewables. The government is expected to finalize specific measures and related legislation by the end of the year.
[1] https://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisaku/gx_jikkou_kaigi/index.html
[USA] ERCOT to complete data center audit by December
As of August 26, 2026, ERCOT plans to audit roughly 300 proposed data centers with 75 MW or more by December 10, 2026, a step needed for its “Batch Zero” process to continue and for large-load interconnections to resume. [1] ERCOT will also conduct community impact reviews of data centers and crypto facilities with 25 MW or more of capacity, following Texas Gov. [2] Greg Abbott’s directive to scrutinize their electricity and water use and potential impacts on communities and public resources. The scale of proposed demand is substantial: ERCOT’s interconnection queue totals about 474 GW, with roughly 90% of requests associated with data centers. However, much of the queue may be speculative or duplicative, making the audit important for determining which projects are likely to actually connect and should be incorporated into ERCOT’s long-term load forecasts and reliability planning. The delays could push back those broader planning efforts.
[1] https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-directs-comprehensive-data-center-audit
[2] https://www.ercot.com/services/rq/large-load-integration
[USA] Energy trade tensions escalates between US and Canada
As of August 26, 2026, the escalating US-Canada trade dispute is threatening to disrupt electricity trade between the two countries and could raise power prices in parts of the US. [1] Canada is expected to announce retaliatory tariffs on US goods after President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on about $20 billion ($27.6 billion CAD) of Canadian goods took effect. [2] Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have discussed a potential 25% tariff on electricity exports to the US, while Ontario has also considered restricting electricity exports in response. In 2025, Canada exported 32.7 TWh of electricity to the U.S., compared with 22.1 TWh of imports from the US, underscoring the importance of the cross-border relationship. While grid operators do not expect reduced Canadian imports to cause major reliability problems under normal conditions, losing Canadian power could increase reliance on more expensive generation and put upward pressure on electricity prices, particularly during periods of extreme weather.
[1] https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/5c358f51-bc8c-4565-854d-9d2e35e6b178
[Japan] Energy Fuels qualifies rare earths for Japanese magnet manufacturer
As of August 19, 2026, Energy Fuels announced that its terbium oxide, a heavy rare earth used to improve the performance and heat resistance of high-strength permanent magnets, has passed qualification for commercial use by one of Japan’s largest permanent-magnet manufacturers. [1] According to Energy Fuels, the approval is significant because terbium is a relatively scarce and strategically important material, and these magnets are used in technologies including EVs, robotics, advanced electronics, aerospace and defense. It also gives Energy Fuels another validated customer as it works to build a non-Chinese supply chain for rare earth materials. The company has already qualified its neodymium-praseodymium and dysprosium products with customers and is pursuing acquisitions that would expand its capabilities from rare-earth processing into magnet production. Energy Fuels believes that for Japan, the development supports broader efforts to diversify critical-mineral supplies away from China, which currently dominates much of the global rare-earth processing and permanent-magnet industry. Energy Fuels intends to make progress toward establishing a more diversified U.S.- and Japan-linked supply chain for the materials needed in advanced manufacturing and clean-energy technologies.
[USA] FERC approves MISO cost allocation framework for transmission projects
As of August 14, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved a cost allocation framework for transmission projects from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) built in the PJM Interconnection’s footprint. [1] Under the framework, Exelon’s Commonwealth Edison will build one group of projects worth almost $904 million, and Duke Ohio is set to build $5.3 million in projects. FERC rejected calls for requiring the projects to undergo competitive solicitations. FERC commissioners Judy Chang and David Rosner stated that MISO’s proposal emphasizes the importance of interregional transmission, citing how in certain cases, the most cost-effective solutions for one region’s system needs could include transmission upgrades in another region’s footprint.
[USA] DOE cancels 3 proposed National Interest Electric Transmission corridors
As of August 12, 2026, the US Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it will not move forward with the designation of 3 proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETC) that the Biden administration selected for review in 2024. [1] The release stated that the corridors were selected to advance that administration’s “Green New Scam” agenda. [2] Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that transmission policy must “serve the American people, not special interests or a climate-alarmist agenda.” The release alleged that the current designation framework proved ineffective in strengthening grid reliability and reducing electricity costs. The 3 canceled corridors include the Lake Erie-Canada corridor, the Southwestern Grid Connector Corridor, and the Tribal Energy Access corridor. While Wright said the current designation framework had proven ineffective, DOE’s National Transmission Needs Study from July said that NIETC designation enables DOE and FERC to use valuable federal financing and permitting tools to speed up construction or modification of transmission facilities within a NIETC.
[2] https://www.energy.gov/documents/national-transmission-needs-study-draft-july-2026
[Japan] NextEra Energy, US Department of Commerce, and Government of Japan reach funding milestone for agreement
As of August 12, 2026, NextEra Energy announced agreements with the US Department of Commerce and the Government of Japan to fund the development and operation of up to 10 GW of natural gas-powered generation in Texas and Pennsylvania. [1] The announcement follows President Donald Trump’s approval of the projects, which were selected for Japan’s $550 billion investment commitment to the US as part of the US-Japan trade agreement. This releases the first tranche of funding for the two projects, which will be used for various development activities, such as down payments on long-lead equipment, procurement and construction contractors, etc. These funds are expected to enable NextEra to deliver large-scale power infrastructure. NextEra is continuing to work on project development with federal, state, and local stakeholders, with initial resources expected to come online as early as the end of 2028.
[1] https://www.investor.nexteraenergy.com/news-and-events/news-releases/2026/08-12-2026-211611676
[USA] PJM reviews large load reliability requirements after load trips offline
As of August 11, 2026, PJM is evaluating potential alterations to interconnection reliability requirements for computational loads, such as data centers and crypto-mining facilities. [1] The grid operator intends to consider ride-through standards and other requirements after almost 3,800 MW of data center load tripped offline unexpectedly in Virginia – the largest such event in PJM’s history. [2] It was triggered by a fault on a 230-kV line in Dominion Energy’s zone, causing a high imbalance between generation and load and large swings in voltage and frequency. Once the fault was removed from the system, data centers in the Dominion Energy zone disconnected from the grid, causing the spikes in voltage. This is when the first load drop of 2,970 MW took place. When the first large loads transferred to backup generation, the loss of the loads caused high system voltage disturbances, which resulted in a second wave of 1,099 MW of data centers disconnected. PJM recovered the Balancing Authority Area Control Error Limit – a measure of the imbalance between sources and uses of power – within 9 minutes, and then dispatched reactive power sources to lower the system’s voltage. The issue was discussed at an August 6, 2026, PJM Operating Committee meeting, where PJM staff asserted that data centers may be too sensitive to grid conditions. As a result, PJM is evaluating the possibility of expanding reliability requirements, with consideration for existing and future ride-through standards and practices.
[Japan] Japan revised economic outlook for next fiscal year
As of July 30, 2026, Japan's government lowered its real GDP growth forecast for fiscal year 2026 from 1.3% to 0.9%, citing higher energy costs stemming from the Middle East conflict. [1] The revised outlook reflects the economic impact of rising oil and natural gas prices on households and businesses, although the government maintained that the economy is expected to continue a moderate recovery supported by private consumption, business investment, and wage growth. The government also raised its inflation forecast, expecting higher import and energy costs to keep price pressures elevated despite fuel subsidies. Officials said risks remain from continued geopolitical uncertainty and volatile energy markets, but projected that real wages would continue improving as inflation gradually moderates. For the energy sector, the downgrade highlights Japan's continued exposure to imported fossil fuels and the broader economic consequences of energy price shocks. Higher fuel costs are expected to weigh on economic growth while reinforcing the importance of improving energy security and diversifying domestic electricity supply.
[USA] Court blocks Trump administration freeze on wind energy
As of August 7, 2026, a federal judge in Oregon ordered the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to resume national security reviews for onshore wind projects, blocking the Trump administration's indefinite freeze on the permitting process. [1] The injunction came after renewable energy groups argued the DoD had unlawfully halted required reviews, delaying more than 100 wind projects across 25 states representing an estimated $47 billion in investment and 120,000 jobs. The ruling restores a key step in the development pipeline for new wind projects by requiring the DoD to restart reviewing whether proposed projects pose national security risks. While the decision does not automatically approve projects, it allows permitting to move forward after months of uncertainty. The court also found the freeze had already caused billions of dollars in economic harm and threatened developers' ability to qualify for federal tax credits tied to construction timelines. By restarting the review process, the ruling provides greater certainty for wind developers and could help bring additional electricity supply online.
[USA] Texas data center moratorium risks delaying 20% of US pipeline
As of August 3, 2026, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, R, implemented a pause on Texas data center grid connections, which, according to Bloomberg NEF, put almost 20% of the total US data center pipeline worth about 49.8 GW at risk of delay. [1] Abbott called for an audit of all data centers in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), leading the grid operator to delay its review to the first set of projects to navigate the state’s new large load interconnection process. [2] As a result, data center revenue losses could reach up to $8 billion by the first quarter of 2027 assuming that 60% of delayed capacity is AI-related. [3] Governor Abbott stated that the total ERCOT interconnection queue requests are worth 474 GW and 90% of new power requests are data centers. The audit will examine if data centers are providing their own power or relying on the grid; their use of water; and which data centers are utilizing state or federal assistance such as tax incentives, grants or abatements. The Texas moratorium follows that of New York, which halted new data center approvals for up to one year.
[USA] DOE considers changing Biden-era transformer rule
As of June 15, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a request for information signaling it is considering revisions to the Biden administration’s 2024 energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers, reopening debate over rules that utilities and manufacturers had largely accepted after earlier revisions. [1] The review seeks feedback on whether the standards could increase transformer costs, affect manufacturing capacity, alter contract terms for utilities, or exacerbate ongoing supply shortages as electricity demand rises from data centers, electrification, and grid expansion. [2] Utility groups have expressed concern that reopening the rule could create regulatory uncertainty just as manufacturers are investing to comply with the existing standards and expand domestic production, potentially delaying procurement of critical grid equipment needed to connect new generation and large electricity loads. The DOE’s review is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to reassess Biden-era energy efficiency regulations while balancing grid reliability, supply chain resilience, and the growing need for distribution infrastructure to support increasing electricity demand.
[USA] Texas approves data center co-location with wind farm with curtailment limits
As of July 24, 2026, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) approved a net metering arrangement for a 260-MW AI data center that is co-located with a wind farm of the same capacity. [1] The data center is the second one planned for that site, and the developer argued that it should not be subject to the same curtailment rules as the first since the total load of both, 525 MW, exceeds the generation resource’s capacity of 265.5 MW. The case could serve as a template for other co-located loads in Texas, where bill SB6 became law in 2025, establishing new rules for large loads in the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas’ (ERCOT) territory and giving the grid operator the authority to disconnect data centers during grid emergencies. The PUCT rejected the data center developer’s argument, ruling that the data center must be capable of curtailing its full load within 30 minutes during grid emergencies, with physical breaker disconnection if necessary. It is also banned from participating in paid demand response programs in the arrangement. This means that the decision requires the data center to operate with greater flexibility than a traditional industrial load, stating that ERCOT should provide 60 minutes of advance notice when “practicable,” while allowing the operator to voluntarily commit to a faster 10-minute response.
[Japan] NVIDIA and Noetra launch national AI infrastructure with Japanese government support
As of July 16, 2026, NVIDIA announced a partnership with Noetra Corp. with support from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to develop what it describes as the world's first national AI infrastructure for physical AI. [1] The initiative will establish an AI factory that will provide 140 megawatts of data center capacity and serve as the computing foundation for METI's FRONTia Project. The project is intended to support AI development while strengthening Japan's digital infrastructure and industrial competitiveness. According to NVIDIA, the AI factory will make AI computing resources and pretrained models broadly available to Japanese developers and enterprises. The initiative aligns with Japan's broader strategy to expand AI infrastructure and support growing demand for advanced computing capacity.