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.
[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.
[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
[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
[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.
[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.
[USA] Data centers in Pennsylvania face increased oversight
As of July 12, 2026, Pennsylvania enacted new reporting requirements for data centers and electricity demand forecasting as part of its 2026–2027 state budget. [1] Under the law, data centers with peak electric demand of 10 MW or more must annually report their electricity and water use, projected future energy demand, and any on-site or off-site energy generation measures. [2] Data centers that fail to comply face fines of $10,000 per day, and the state Department of Environmental Protection will publish annual reports on statewide data center energy and water consumption trends. The legislation aims to improve oversight as electricity demand grows alongside rapid data center development in Pennsylvania. It also authorizes the PUC to review and validate utility load forecasts submitted to PJM, coordinate with PJM and other regulators to improve forecasting accuracy, and help prevent duplicate counting of proposed projects, reflecting broader state concerns about grid planning and demand projections.
[USA] PJM capacity prices reach price cap
As of July 14, 2026, PJM Interconnection announced that its capacity auction for the 2028–2029 delivery year cleared at the $325/MW-day price cap, reflecting continued tight electricity supply and demand across the region. [1] The auction resulted in a 6.8 GW shortfall below PJM's reserve margin target, slightly larger than the previous auction, while attracting only about 525 MW of new resources. PJM stated that a roughly 2 GW increase in forecast demand, driven largely by data center development, contributed to the outcome and said it is preparing market reforms, including a backstop capacity auction and a "connect and manage" framework for large new loads. Stakeholders expressed differing views on the results, with some arguing the current market design does not sufficiently encourage new generation or demand response, while others called for reforms to accelerate permitting, interconnection, transmission expansion, and cost allocation for large electricity users.
[Japan] METI White paper on international economy and trade 2026
As of June 30, 2026, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) released the 2026 White Paper on International Economy and Trade and the International Trade and Economic Strategy 2026, outlining Japan’s approach to strengthening economic resilience amid rising global uncertainty. [1] The strategy identifies supply-chain diversification and stronger ties with emerging economies as priorities, particularly because these markets are increasingly important sources of critical minerals and resources. METI also highlighted energy supply resilience as a key policy area, calling for stronger cooperation between oil-producing and consuming countries, expanded supply chains, and strategic investment to improve energy security. The strategy specifically references using the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) and Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience Asia (POWERR Asia) frameworks to connect Asia and the Middle East and promote more resilient energy markets. METI also emphasized the importance of maintaining stable access to energy and resources while advancing decarbonization efforts through international cooperation. The strategy further identifies technology development, digital transformation, and innovation as areas where Japan can strengthen industrial competitiveness and address emerging economic challenges.
[USA] Sen. King urges FERC to block NextEra and Dominion Energy merger
As of June 23, 2026, in a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, urged the agency to reject a planned merger between NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy, saying that NextEra engaged in anticompetitive behavior that hurt consumers. [1] He asserted that the combination would create “the largest electric utility in the United States, concentrating an unprecedented mix of merchant generation, rate-based generation, and transmission assets in the hands of a single company” that has a documented record of “using its market position…to suppress competition that threatens its merchant revenues.” The planned $67 billion merger would give the combined company 110 GW of generation and 10 million utility accounts in Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. King contends that NextEra’s efforts to block the New England Clean Energy Connect project in 2021 is proof that the merger would harm ratepayers. He also cited NextEra’s recent agreement to pay $150 million to settle shareholder allegations that the company made misleading statements about its involvement in political interference schemes in Florida. He asserted that 3 features of the deal should be closely reviewed, since it would lead to a high concentration of merchant generation alongside rate-regulated power supplies.
[USA] FERC declines waiver for $2B gas-fired plant in PJM’s fast-track review
As of July 2, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rejected a request for a waiver from certain PJM Interconnection rules for a $2 billion gas-fired project from PJM’s fast-track Reliability Resource Initiative (RRI) interconnection review process. FERC maintained that granting the waiver for the project would harm third parties by delaying PJM’s review of other grid interconnection requests, including those in its RRI. [1] The RRI process was designed for shovel-ready projects that could meet near-term reliability needs, initially having 51 projects totaling 11.8 GW. It barred changes to a project’s size and capacity interconnection rights. The company implementing the project, Advanced Power, hit an equipment supply hurdle when it was unable to acquire a turbine, which is why it requested a waiver to use alternate turbines and reduce the project’s maximum output by 55 MW and reduce its capacity interconnection rights. In the decision, FERC agreed with PJM that allowing Advanced Power to reconfigure its project could lead to interconnection review delays.
[1] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20260702-3059&optimized=false
[USA] DOE releases emergency order for PJM during extreme heat
As of June 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act to support grid reliability in the PJM Interconnection region amid extreme heat-driven electricity demand. [1] According to the official DOE announcement, the emergency declaration was prompted by forecasted peak load conditions reaching above 160,000 megawatts, creating heightened risk of supply shortfalls during the highest-demand hours. The order temporarily authorizes operational measures intended to maintain sufficient electricity supply, including flexibility for generation resources to operate under emergency conditions to ensure system stability. The action reflects ongoing stress on the bulk power system driven by high temperatures and rising electricity demand, reinforcing the need for adequate resource availability and operational coordination to maintain reliability during peak conditions.
[USA} PUCT approves ERCOT’s Batch Zero process for connecting large electricity users
As of June 18, 2026, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) approved rules for the state’s grid operator to process large load interconnection requests, including data centers. [1] The first set of projects to navigate the new process is called “Batch Zero.” The Electric Reliability Council of Texas is tracking over 438 GW of large-load requests, and almost 90% are from data centers. Under the framework, ERCOT will look at batches of projects that are 75 MW or larger in a single study to “assess the full picture of future electricity demand at once.” The grid operator stated that the principles established through the Batch Zero framework will be the basis for an ongoing, comprehensive transformation planning process, which includes provisions for large loads to develop their own generation on-site. The process creates a path to interconnect large load customers that agree to let ERCOT curtail their power use in response to local constraints.
[1] https://www.ercot.com/news/release/06182026-puct-approves-ercots