[USA] PacifiCorp urges FERC to dismiss challenges to wildfire-related costs in transmission rates

As of August 22, 2025, PacifiCorp is urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to dismiss challenges to the company’s inclusion of $1.7 billion in wildfire-related costs and liabilities in transmission rates. [1] The utility company contends that “formal challenges” and complaints brought by the Bonneville Power Administration, Powerex Corp., Deseret Generation & Transmission Co-operative, and the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems fail to show the costs were imprudently incurred. [2] The dispute arises as utilities face financial challenges stemming from wildfires exacerbated by climate change. In an August 4 filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, PacifiCorp stated that outstanding wildfire-related complaints in Oregon and California totaled approximately $54 billion, excluding any potential doubling of damages or punitive damages. PacifiCorp requests FERC for permission to include costs and liabilities related to wildfires from 2020 and 2022 in its transmission rates. The challengers to the updated rates assert that the company failed to show its wildfire-related costs were prudent. In joint comments, Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Southern California Edison urged FERC to continue assessing allegations of imprudence on a case-by-case basis.

[1] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20250822-5198&optimized=false&sid=5e2eda9e-6933-44b6-b300-4304f6fb9ce2

[2] https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000075594/000108131625000013/bhe-20250630.htm

[USA] 704-MW Revolution Wind project halted by Trump administration

As of August 22, 2025, 704 MW offshore wind farm Revolution Wind was ordered to stop work by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. [1] The project developer Ørsted said that the project is about 80% complete and was set to supply energy to Rhode Island and Connecticut. Ørsted, which owns the project in a 50/50 joint venture with Global Infrastructure Partners’ Skyborn Renewables, said that the project is fully permitted and has all offshore foundations installed and 45 out of 65 wind turbines installed. [2] The Trump administration has previously issued a similar stop-work order on the 810-MW Empire Wind 1 project in New York in April. [3] The order was revoked and the project allowed to continue after New York Governor Kathy Hochul negotiated with the administration to move forward on “critical pipeline capacity” for natural gas. In this case, the project is currently complying with the order and taking appropriate steps to stop offshore activities. The uncertainty has caused Ørsted’s shares to tumble to an all-time low of $9.31 following the news. Ørsted said in an August 11 announcement that it plans to move ahead with a $9.4 billion rights issue to shore up its capital structure.

[1] https://orsted.com/en/company-announcement-list/2025/08/revolution-wind-receives-offshore-stop-work-order--145387701

[2] https://chrissmith.house.gov/uploadedfiles/trump_admin_dept_of_interior_empire_wind_memo_signed_by_secretary_burgum_april_16_2025.pdf

[3] https://www.equinor.com/news/20250519-empire-wind-project-resumes-construction

[USA] Arizona regulators repeal the state’s renewable standard

As of August 14, 2025, the Arizona Corporation Commission voted unanimously to direct Staff to take the next step to repeal the Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff Rules (REST), which required electric utilities to deliver 15% renewable energy by 2025. [1] The rule was set by the Commission in 2006 and its targets have already been surpassed by the state’s major regulated utilities. Regulators say the rule drives up energy costs and is unnecessary. Arizona’s two largest regulated electric utilities have already met or exceeded the REST rules requirement. Arizona Public Service Company (APS) reported about 19% of its energy contains renewable energy sources in 2024, in 2023 the number was 13%. Tucson Electric Power Company (TEP) reported that 29% of its energy portfolio included renewables in 2024; in 2023, the number was 27%. The debate began when APS backed away from its pledge to go carbon free by 2050. Regulators indicate that cost concerns are at the heart of their efforts to repeal REST rules.

[1] https://www.azcc.gov/news/home/2025/08/15/acc-directs-staff-to-begin-process-to-repeal-renewable-energy-mandates

[USA] Alaska residents spent three times more on energy than Florida residents in 2023

As of August 21, 2025, the US Energy Information Administration found that Alaska has the highest per capita energy expenditures of any state at $12,100. [1] According to their recently published State Energy Data System information for 2023, Wyoming and North Dakota spent the next most on energy (spending over twice the national average of $4,700), and Florida had the lowest per capita energy expenditures at $3,700, followed by New York and Maryland. These differences in expenditures are attributable to weather, economic composition, industrial energy consumption, and other factors. Alaska, Wyoming, and North Dakota have cold winters that require more energy for heating, and their state economies also have more energy-intensive industrial sectors. Florida has warm weather and therefore requires less energy for heating. New York has widespread public transit use and lower expenditures for transportation fuels. Both states have less energy-intensive industries. Nationwide average energy expenditures decreased in the US in 2023, but remained higher than long-term averages. Energy expenditures in 2023 were 12% less than in 2022, largely due to lower energy prices.

[1] https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65965

[USA] Congress wants the administration to continue ENERGY STAR

As of August 4, 2025, appropriations work is on pause as Congress has left Washington for recess. [1] Despite President Trump’s attempts to eliminate or privatize the Energy Star program, there has been strong bipartisan support for keeping the Energy Star program fully funded at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). On July 22, the House Appropriations Committee advanced its fiscal year 2026 (FY26) spending bill for the EPA, with the adoption of a bipartisan manager’s amendment directing the agency to maintain level funding of $32 million for the Energy Star program. Soon after, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted nearly unanimously to pass its own spending bill requiring EPA to fund Energy Star at $36 million for the year. After President Trump’s FY26 budget request proposed eliminating funding for Energy Star and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the program should be privatized, the administration appears to still be considering its next steps for the program. The House and Senate Appropriations Committees, however, have signaled full support for Energy Star and believe it should be preserved at the EPA.

[1] https://www.usgbc.org/articles/congress-wants-administration-continue-energy-star

[USA] President Trump names David Rosner Chairman of FERC

As of August 13, 2025, the White House named David Rosner, a Democratic member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as agency chairman. [1] Rosner joined FERC in 2017 as an energy industry analyst and has been a commissioner since June 2024. He spent two years on detail from FERC to the US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. During his time as a staff member at FERC, he led efforts on electric transmission, fuel security, energy storage resources, and natural gas-electric coordination. Rosner was previously a senior policy advisor for the US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis and an associate director at the Bipartisan Policy Center’s energy project. Rosner replaces former FERC Chairman Mark Christie, a Republican whom President Donald Trump nominated in his first term. Christie left FERC on Friday after Trump declined to name him to a second term at the agency.

[1] https://ferc.gov/news-events/news/president-trump-names-david-rosner-chairman-ferc

[USA] Energy Department announces first pilot project for advanced nuclear fuel lines

As of August 4, 2025, the US Department of Energy (DOE) conditionally selected Standard Nuclear as the first US company accepted into the July 2025 fuel line pilot program. [1] The initiative eliminates America’s use of foreign sources of enriched uranium and critical materials, thereby encouraging private investment in nuclear power. Standard Nuclear, based in Oak Ridge Tennessee, is the first conditional selection under DOE’s new pilot program and will leverage the Department’s authorization process to ensure a robust supply of nuclear fuel in both Tennessee and Idaho. This fuel is in high demand because reactor developers are getting ready to test their designs that use TRISO fuel. They will manage the sourcing of nuclear material feedstock for fuel fabrication, which could be acquired through DOE’s high-assay low-enriched uranium allocation program. The fuel line pilot program supports DOE’s new reactor pilot program that aims to have at least three advanced reactor designs achieve criticality by July 4, 2026.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-department-announces-first-pilot-project-advanced-nuclear-fuel-lines

[USA] DOE issues final non-FTA LNG export authorization for exports from Venture Global Calcasieu Pass Project

As of August 4, 2025, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed a final authorization for additional liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to non-free trade agreement (non-FTA) countries from Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass project in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. [1] This allows Calcasieu Pass, an LNG export project that has been in operation since 2022, to export an additional 20 billion cubic feet of natural gas as LNG per year. Venture Global’s second LNG export project, Plaquemines, began exporting late in 2024. The company recently announced a final investment decision on Phase 1 of its third LNG export project, CP2. In March 2025, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a conditional non-FTA export authorization to CP2 that is ready for a final order now that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has concluded its review of the project.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-issues-final-non-fta-lng-export-authorization-additional-exports-venture-global

[USA] DOE allows Talen Energy to operate unit above limits to avoid outages

As of July 28, 2025, the US Department of Energy (DOE) issued an emergency order to allow a nearly 400-MW oil-fired units near Baltimore to run beyond its operating limits as the eastern US endures a heat wave. [1] The request for the order was filed by the PJM Interconnection and the unit is owned by Talen Energy. [2] Talen Energy and its subsidiaries had multiple units slated to retire in May, before reaching a “reliability-must-run” agreement that was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which delayed it. In issuing the order, DOE agreed with PJM in acknowledging an “imminent electric reliability emergency” in the Baltimore Gas and Electric zone in Maryland. According to PJM’s petition to DOE, there could be blackouts in the BG&E zone without the order.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/PJM%27s%20202%28c%29%20Order%20No.%20202-25-6.pdf

[2] https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/PJM%E2%80%99s%20202%28c%29%20Application%20202-25-6.pdf

[USA] Department of Energy issues report evaluating impact of greenhouse gases on US climate, invites public comment

As of July 29, 2025, the US Department of Energy released a new report entitled “A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the US Climate,” which evaluated existing peer-reviewed literature and government data on the climate impacts of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions. [1] The report provides an assessment of the “conventional narrative” on climate change, concluding that CO2–induced global warming “appears” to be less damaging economically than commonly believed and aggressive mitigation strategies may be “misdirected.”  The report was developed by the 2025 Climate Working Group, a group of five independent scientists assembled by Secretary Wright with expertise in physical science, economics, climate science, and academic research. The report also asserts that US policy actions are allegedly expected to have undetectably small direct impacts on the global climate and any affects will emerge “only with long delays.” The report was published as part of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule repealing the 2009 Endangerment Finding.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-issues-report-evaluating-impact-greenhouse-gasses-us-climate-invites

[USA] DOE terminates funding for Grain Belt Express

As of July 23, 2025, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the Loan Programs Office (LPO) has terminated its conditional commitment for the Grain Belt Express Phase 1 project, a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line intended to connect wind and solar capacity across Kansas and Missouri. [1] The commitment, which would have provided a loan guarantee of up to $4.9 billion, was issued by the Biden administration in November 2024. [2] The DOE found after a review of the project’s financials that the conditions necessary to issue the guarantee are unlikely to be met, and it is not critical for the federal government to have a role in supporting the project. Invenergy, the company behind the project, has highlighted the Grain Belt Express’s ability to “unlock access to one of the strongest combined wind and solar energy resources in the United States.”

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-terminates-taxpayer-funded-financial-assistance-grain-belt-express

[2] https://arpa-e.energy.gov/sites/default/files/migrated/Rajat%20Majumder.pdf

[USA] Constellation-Calpine deal approved by FERC

As of July 23, 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved Constellation Energy’s proposal to buy Calpine from Energy Capital Partners. [1] The deal is valued at $16.4 billion and subject to conditions that aim to reduce the expanded company’s ability to exert market power. [2] The proposed mitigation plan involves Constellation selling five power plants in the PJM Interconnection, and FERC believes that the transaction “will not have an adverse effect on competition.” Although Constellation agreed not to enter into colocation data center deals until mid-2026 or until FERC issues an order clarifying PJM’s rules on the issue, the company will be free to partake in above-market data center transactions under the approved conditions. As part of the plan, Constellation will sell four power plants in the PJM Interconnection totaling 3,546 MW. They include: the 1,134 MW gas-fired combined cycle Bethlehem Energy Center; the 569 MW dual-fuel combined cycle Hay Road Energy Center; and the 707-MW, gas-fired simple cycle Edge Moor Energy Center.

[1] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20250723-3061&optimized=false&sid=ff67ba86-3b04-4705-9f91-9860c7fb29cf

[2] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20250703-5191&optimized=false

[USA] Westinghouse collaborates with Google to accelerate nuclear deployments

As of July 16, 2025, Westinghouse Electric Company and Google Cloud have partnered to deploy artificial intelligence tools in a bid to streamline the construction of advanced nuclear reactors and improve the performance of the existing nuclear fleet. [1] The collaboration will be integrated with Westinghouse’s proprietary nuclear AI tools, known as bertha and HiVE, with Google’s data platforms and machine learning capabilities. The companies say the tools will make nuclear construction more efficient and repeatable, which has continued to remain a challenge for the industry that increasingly gets called upon to deliver more carbon-free power to meet demand. Westinghouse and Google have completed a proof-of-concept by using the AI-enhanced plant design platform that generates and optimizes construction work packages for Westinghouse’s AP1000 modular reactor system. This is an important advancement for reducing project delays and costs that have historically afflicted nuclear projects. While details on deployment timelines are limited, the Westinghouse declared that the collaboration aims to optimize deployments of its full reactor lineup, including the AP1000, the AP300 small modular reactor (SMR) and eVinci microreactor.

[1] https://info.westinghousenuclear.com/blog/westinghouse-shares-vision-for-new-ap1000-reactors-with-president-trump-and-u.s.-senator-dave-mccormick-and-partners-with-google-on-ai-at-energy-summit

[USA] David LaCerte nominated to fill vacant seat at FERC

As of July 17, 2025, the White House named David LaCerte, an official in the US Office of Personnel Management, to fill a vacant seat at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. [1] LaCerte has served as the principal White House liaison and senior advisor to the director of the OPM since January 2025. The Office of Personnel Management is the chief human resources agency and personnel policy manager for the federal government. LaCerte contributed to Project 2025, organized by the conservative Heritage Foundation to assist with the presidential transition effort. LaCerte has a background in energy litigation and environmental, safety, and incident response issues. If confirmed by the Senate, LaCerte would serve for the remainder of former FERC Chairman Willie Phillips’ term, which expires June 30, 2026. If confirmed, FERC would have a 3-2 Republican majority. It is currently split between Republicans and Democrats 2-2.

[1] https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-d743/

[USA] Trump prepares tariffs for Japan, South Korea, other countries ahead of August 1st

As of July 7, 2025, President Donald Trump unveiled the tariff rates the U.S. will charge imports from certain countries. This follows the expiration of a 90-day pause on country-specific levies. [1] Many countries on the list, including Japan, South Korea, and Thailand, are major suppliers of battery components and electrical transformers to the U.S. [2] The rates range from 25% to 40% and are mainly the same as the previous tariffs that were unveiled and paused in April. [3] However, several rates changed; Japan’s proposed rate increased from 24% to 25%, while South Korea and Thailand remained the same at 25% and 36% respectively. In executive order 14257, the terms of the arrangements are further clarified, stating that if any trading partner takes steps to remedy non-reciprocal trade arrangements and “align sufficiently” with the U.S. on economic and national security matters, the ‘Harmonized Tariff Schedule’ may be modified to decrease or limit in scope the duties imposed under the order. In a July 7 executive order, the 90-day pause, which was set to expire on July 9, is extended until the tariffs go into effect on August 1st.

[1] https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-06063.pdf

[2] https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/extending-the-modification-of-the-reciprocal-tariff-rates/

[3] https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/07/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-continues-enforcement-of-reciprocal-tariffs-and-announces-new-tariff-rates/

[USA] DOE releases report on evaluating US grid reliability and security

As of July 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a report entitled “Report on Evaluating U.S. Grid Reliability and Security.” [1] The report fulfills a section of Trump’s executive order ‘Strengthening the Reliability and Security of the United States Electric Grid,” by forming a uniform methodology to identify at-risk regions and guide federal reliability interventions. The analysis reveals that the existing generation retirements and delays in adding new firm capacity will lead to a surge in power outages and an increasing mismatch between electricity demand and supply. This will especially originate from AI-driven data center growth, which will affect energy security. The report reaffirms that with current retirement schedules and additions, most regions will face dangerous reliability risks within 5 years. The power grid will be unable to meet expected demand for AI, data centers, manufacturing, and industrialization, while maintaining an affordable cost of living for Americans. The projected load growth indicates that retirements increase the risk of power outages by 100 times in 2030. Furthermore, traditional peak-hour tests to evaluate resource adequacy do not sufficiently account for growing dependence on neighboring grids.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-releases-report-evaluating-us-grid-reliability-and-security

[USA] Federal agencies revoke environmental review rules

As of July 1, 2025, the Federal Regulatory Commission and other federal agencies revoked regulations on the management of environmental reviews of proposed projects under the National Environmental Policy Act. [1] Federal agencies that revoked their NEPA regulations include the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Transportation, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). [2] The action was in response to Trump’s executive order that aims to accelerate energy development, including by rescinding NEPA regulations. [3] Some agencies proposed to replace the prior regulations with new ones, while others replaced the rules with nonbinding guidance. [4] The primary reasons cited for rescinding and reforming were delays, removing red tape, and accelerating infrastructure projects. [5] FERC voted unanimously to revise its regulations, stating that the agency will “continue to ensure [their] environmental reviews are legally durable so projects stand up in court and get built.”

[1] https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/06/30/secretary-rollins-rolls-back-overly-burdensome-environmental-regulations-unleash-american-innovation

[2] https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-secretary-announces-updated-nepa-procedures-end-permitting-paralysis-and-unleash

[3] https://www.doi.gov/oepc/national-environmental-policy-act-nepa

[4] https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/us-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-unveils-sweeping-updates-nepa-usdot-fast

[5] https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/news/ferc-revises-nepa-procedures-make-permitting-more-efficient

[USA] DOE announced updated NEPA procedures

As of June 30, 2025, the Department of Energy (DOE) published an interim rule rescinding all NEPA regulations and published new NEPA guidance procedures for the DOE.  [1] The updates to the Department’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), alter the permitting process to make it more efficient. The goal of the update is to coordinate an interagency effort to simplify NEPA compliance, lower construction costs, eliminate delays, and prioritize energy production and infrastructure development. The update follows Trump’s Executive Order 14154 “Unleashing American Energy,” and implements reforms enacted by Congress under the 2023 Builder Act. Key reforms include eliminating agency procedures, reducing the maximum Environmental Assessment, requiring the designation of a “lead agency,” implementing deadlines, increasing transparency, and more. The updated procedures also include a discussion of the recent Supreme Court decision in Seven County, which limits requirements for agencies to analyze upstream and downstream Greenhouse Gas (GHG) effects and curtails crucial climate change analysis.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-secretary-announces-updated-nepa-procedures-end-permitting-paralysis-and-unleash

[USA] Senate repeals major clean energy tax incentives

As of June 16, 2025, draft legislation released by the Senate Finance Committee will terminate or scale back most of the major tax incentives for clean energy contained in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. [1] Senate Republicans proposed to end most tax breaks for wind and solar power, electric vehicles, and other clean energy, contrary to expectations. The plan would eliminate a $7,500 consumer tax credit for electric vehicle purchases and home energy rebates, within 6 months. In addition, a tax credit for homeowners who install solar panels on rooftops would end in 180 days, and a subsidy for making hydrogen fuels would expire this year. Federal tax credits for wind and solar power will be rapidly phased out, and wind and solar companies will qualify for full tax breaks only if they start construction in the next 6 months. The House version of the bill would have ended those tax breaks immediately. Notably, the Senate bill would preserve tax credits for companies that build nuclear reactors, geothermal plants, hydropower dams or battery storage through 2033. The Senate draft, like the House bill, would also make solar leasing companies ineligible for federal tax credits.

[1] https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/chairman-crapo-releases-finance-committee-reconciliation-text

[USA] States and ratepayer advocates urge FERC to reject MISO petition

As of June 13, 2025, state utility regulators and ratepayer advocates are urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reject a Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) petition that requests the agency to declare that “unsolicited” long-range transmission planning, monitoring, and evaluation is outside the scope of its market monitor’s duties. [1] Market monitors from the PJM Interconnection, MISO, and ISO New England said that transmission planning and market oversight are linked. [2] Potomac Economics (PE), which serves as the independent market monitor for MISO, argued that there are not many coherent arguments indicating that transmission planning does not affect MISO’s markets and services. [3] Yet, MISO transmission owners like Ameren, Duke Energy, and Entergy support minimizing PE’s role in transmission planning, asserting that unsolicited monitoring and evaluation of MISO’s transmission planning activities are beyond the scope of PE’s tariff-assigned responsibilities. They argue that PE should not be entitled to compensation funded by MISO customers. The petition originated from PE’s criticism of MISO’s needs and cost-benefit analysis that underlie its roughly $22 billion Tranche 2.1 transmission portfolio that was approved in December. MISO asked FERC to declare that unsolicited transmission planning and monitoring are outside the scope of PE’s engagement under MISO’s tariff and that the grid operator does not have to pay for the activities.

[1] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20250613-5201&optimized=false&sid=1f13c387-bf83-457a-9977-4e41b80f5e5c

[2] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20250613-5150&optimized=false&sid=1f13c387-bf83-457a-9977-4e41b80f5e5c

[3] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20250507-5187&optimized=false&sid=1f13c387-bf83-457a-9977-4e41b80f5e5c