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.
[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
[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.
[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.”
[3] https://www.doi.gov/oepc/national-environmental-policy-act-nepa
[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.
[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.
[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.
[USA] Talen to sell 1.9GW from Susquehanna plant to Amazon
As of June 11, 2025, Talen Energy announced that it has entered into a 1,920-MW power purchase agreement with Amazon Web Services to supply data centers in Pennsylvania from the independent power producer’s majority-owned Susquehanna nuclear power plant. [1] Under the PPA, Talen’s existing 300-MW co-location arrangement with AWS will shift to a front-of-the-meter framework that doesn’t require Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval. [2] In November, FERC rejected an amended interconnection service agreement that would have facilitated expanded power sales to a co-located AWS data center at the Susquehanna plant. [3] Talen expects to earn about $18 billion in revenue over the life of the contract at its full quantity, according to an investor presentation. The contract calls for delivering 840 MW to 1,200 MW in 2029 and 1,680 MW to 1,920 MW in 2032. Talen and Amazon will explore building small modular reactors in Pennsylvania and expanding Susquehanna’s output through uprates.
[2] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20241101-3061&optimized=false
[USA] House Reconciliation Bill amends clean energy provisions of the IRA
As of May 22, 2025, the House of Representatives passed its reconciliation bill H.R.1, titled “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, which amends the clean energy provisions that were enacted in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). [1] The legislation proposes several significant changes to the IRA, including the removal of the investment tax credit and production tax credit for any facilities that are not under construction as of 60 days after enactment, as well as a full repeal of the EV credits. [2] Other credits that were removed include the Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit and the Clean Fuel Production Credit, which provide credit for domestic production of clean energy components and a tech-neutral credit for domestic production of low-emission transportation fuels, respectively. The IRA permits most clean-energy credits to be sold by taxpayers, which created a robust secondary market, allowing sponsors with limited or no tax capacity to monetize the credits and raise capital. However, the legislation would undo this system for some forms of tax credits, including those under certain sections. The legislation would repeal the transferability of projects that begin construction two years after the date the legislation is enacted, which may be anytime from July to August 2025.
[1] https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1?utm_=
[USA] DOE Secretary Chris Wright terminates 24 Biden-era clean energy projects worth $3 billion
As of May 30, 2025, the US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced the termination of 24 awards that were issued by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) under the Biden administration, totaling $3.7 billion. [1] The projects primarily included funding for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) as well as decarbonization. [2] Sixteen of the 24 terminated awards were signed between November and January 20. The awards were cancelled under a review process that the Department of Energy (DOE) released earlier in May 2025, under which 179 awards worth $15 billion were being reviewed. The review process was outlined in a Secretarial Memorandum entitled “Ensuring Responsibility for Financial Assistance”, which illustrated DOE’s policy for evaluating financial assistance on a case-by-case basis. Among the recipients of the cancelled awards are Calpine, Ørsted, PPL Corp., and Exxon Mobil Corp.
[USA] DOE orders 1.6-GW coal-fired power plant to delay shutdown
As of May 23, 2025, the US Department of Energy (DOE) directed Consumers Energy to delay the shutdown of a 1,560-MW coal-fired power plant in Michigan by about 3 months, citing concerns of possible power outages in the Midcontinent region this summer. [1] To determine that the J.H. Campbell power plant in West Olive, Michigan should run until August 21 rather than May 31, DOE referenced a North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) report that found that the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) faces an elevated risk of power outages during high demand and lower power output periods of the summer. [2] The NERC report found that MISO, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), ISO New England, and the Southwest Power Pool were at elevated risks of not having enough power supplies during the peak demand periods. Energy Secretary Chris Wright cited a MISO report to explain that while the results demonstrated sufficient capacity, the summer months reflected the highest risk and a tighter supply-demand balance, suggesting the need to increase capacity. Wright ordered MISO to dispatch the Campbell plant economically to minimize ratepayer costs and DOE issued the emergency order without a request from the plant owner, transmission provider, or grid operator.
[2] https://cdn.misoenergy.org/2025%20PRA%20Results%20Posting%2020250428694160.pdf
[USA] Trump signs executive order to deploy new nuclear capacity and oversight
As of May 23, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order initiating a plan to deploy 300 GW of net new nuclear capacity by 2050, with 10 large reactors under construction in the US by 2030, while expanding nuclear fuel supplies. [1] President Trump also signed 3 other orders to accelerate Nuclear Regulatory Commission reviews of reactor license applications and reconsider NRC radiation limits. [2] The orders also aim to expand Energy and Defense roles in nuclear power plant licensing and siting and speeding up new test reactor deployment. The order includes a directive to review the statutory authorities to identify any legislative changes needed to achieve the aforementioned national policy, as well as an evaluation of the reprocessing and recycling of spent nuclear fuel from the operation of Department of Defense and Department of Energy reactors. Another order calls on the Secretary of Energy to release at least “20 metric tons of high-assay low-enriched uranium into a readily available fuel bank for private sector projects operating nuclear reactors to power AI infrastructure at DOE sites.” Staffing reductions and budget cuts at DOE and NRC could undermine some of these efforts, making it harder to implement the executive orders. Furthermore, the involvement of federal departments to license and oversee projects could create additional red tape as companies navigate between more than one new oversight body.
[USA] TXNM Energy enters agreement to be acquired by Blackstone Infrastructure
As of May 19, 2025, it was announced that Blackstone Infrastructure will acquire utility company TXNM in a $11.5 billion deal, including debt, as the firm bets on rising US electricity demand and a shift to cleaner energy sources. [1] As of early March, the deal valued TXNM at $61.25 per share, representing a 23% premium to TXNM Energy’s unaffected 30-day volume-weighted average price (VWAP). Blackstone, with $60 billion of assets, is betting that stable, regulated returns and high capital needs in grid modernization make TXNM a long-term investment fit. Blackstone is also investing $400 million through the purchase of 8 million newly issued shares of TXNM Energy common stock at $50 per share, by way of a private placement agreement, in order to support TXNM’s growth plans. The deal requires regulatory approvals from the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC), Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Department of Justice, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Federal Communications Commission.
[USA] Energy Department announces emergency actions to provide overdue relief to Puerto Rico power grid
As of May 16, 2025, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced new emergency actions intended to provide immediate assistance to Puerto Rico and strengthen the island’s failing power system. [1] Puerto Rico’s most recent island-wide blackout occurred a month ago, which has resulted in Energy Secretary Chris Wright issuing two emergency orders authorized by the Federal Power Act Section 202 (c) to address grid security issues and improve grid resiliency. The orders were issued by the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), and aim to unlock emergency protocols and empower Puerto Rico’s government to address immediate problems plaguing the fragile grid system. This is especially critical to prevent further outages ahead of peak summer demand. Additionally, the DOE’s Grid Deployment Office (GDO) will review the $365 million in funding from the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund (PR-ERF) to ensure all DOE assistance is used to support practical fixes to the grid. The first emergency order directs the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) to dispatch generation units necessary to expand baseload generation for the island and maintain grid reliability. The second directs PREPA to perform vegetation management to reduce risk of shortages and fire.
[USA] PJM and utilities want FERC to dismiss the call for colocation settlement discussion
According to a May 5, 2025, filing, PJM transmission owners think that the national interest would be best served by a quick dismissal of the proceeding of a 90-day pause in deliberations over the PJM Interconnection’s rules for colocating data centers at power plants. [1] They urge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to dismiss a call for stakeholder settlement talks to instead encourage parties to focus on obtaining service under the rules currently in place. [2] The transmission owners include American Electric Power, Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Exelon, FirstEnergy, and PPL Electric. The outcome of FERC’s review could set a precedent for colocated load in the power markets the agency oversees, arriving during a surge in data center development in the US.
[USA] Energy Department slashes 47 costly regulations in mass deregulatory effort
As of May 12, 2025, the US Department of Energy announced the first step in its largest deregulatory effort, proposing the elimination or reduction of 47 regulations. [1] These actions include elimination or modification to consumer appliance standards, regulations limiting building and energy production, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) requirements for grant recipients. [2] The list of regulations targets many longstanding energy efficiency standards for appliances. Trump also signed a series of bills eliminating regulations that were enacted at the end of the Biden administration, making them subject to the Congressional Review Act. This means that Congress and the president can undo rules passed at the end of a previous administration more easily. The rules covered tankless natural gas water heaters, commercial refrigerators, freezers, and walk-in coolers.
[2] https://clyde.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3143
[USA] DOE halts fossil fuel ban for federal buildings
As of May 5, 2025, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it has delayed the compliance date for new provisions regarding Clean Energy for New Federal Buildings and Major Renovations of Federal Buildings (CER). [1] The action delays the standards from the previous administration to limit the use of energy sources such as coal and natural gas, to power federal buildings. The original regulations, issued on May 1, 2024, required certain new federal buildings and federal buildings undergoing major renovations to reduce their fossil fuel-generated energy consumption. The delay will be implemented as DOE reviews recently released implementation guidance and a template for petitions for downward adjustments. This review is being undertaken to ensure alignment with the current administration's new energy policies relating to energy security and reliability. As a result of the action, the compliance date will be delayed for one year. During this time, federal agencies are not required to comply with the energy performance standards outlined in the regulations.
[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-halts-fossil-fuel-ban-federal-buildings
[USA] Michigan joins 17 states and DC to sue Trump administration over wind energy halt
As of May 5, 2025, Michigan joined attorneys general (AGs) from 17 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration for halting wind energy projects. [1] The plaintiffs, which included New York, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois, and Delaware, filed the suit against President Trump, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and the Department of Commerce, among others. The AGs allege that their states are being harmed by Trump’s executive order that halted federal approvals for onshore and offshore wind energy projects. In a press release, the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General said that the directive threatens to thwart states’ significant investments in wind industry infrastructure, supply chains, and workforce development, investments that already total billions of dollars. The lawsuit states that “the Wind Directive has stopped most wind-energy development in its tracks, despite the fact that wind energy is a homegrown source of reliable, affordable energy that supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, creates billions of dollars in economic activity and tax payments, and supplies more than 10% of the country’s electricity.”
[1] https://www.mass.gov/doc/offshore-wind-complaint/download
[USA] Summer capacity prices jump to $666.50/MW-day for MISO
As of April 29, 2025, MISO’s capacity prices for the upcoming summer season jumped to $666.50/MW-day from $30/MW-day last year across the operator’s footprint, partially driven by declining surplus capacity, according to the results of its latest planning resource auction. [1] MISO used a reliability-based demand curve for the first time, which introduced a reliability-focused pricing structure that reflects the increasing value of accredited capacity as the system approaches minimum resource adequacy targets. [2] In a press release, MISO’s vice president of system planning and competitive transmission stated that the operator’s market reforms continue to assist in providing pricing signals that improve market efficiency and enhance reliability across the footprint. The auction results leave MISO’s northern and central regions with a 10.1% reserve margin for the summer and its southern region with an 8.7% margin for the same period. Most of MISO’s Load Serving Entities (LSEs) either self-supply or secure the capacity they need prior to the auction. Those that enter the auction to procure capacity must pay the Auction Clearing Price and those holding excess sell it at that price. The impact on consumer costs would vary, depending on the size of capacity shortfalls and the terms of wholesale power purchase agreements or state-regulated retail rates.
[1] https://cdn.misoenergy.org/2025%20PRA%20Results%20Posting%2020250428694160.pdf