44 States Deploy 481 Grid Actions in Q2, Exposing RTO Bottleneck
States approved 481 grid modernization policies in Q2 2026, but federal RTO tariff rules now block most storage and interconnection gains from reaching the bulk power system.
PJM batteries discharge into near-record demand as storage hits inflection
Virtual battery programs discharged power during early-July heatwave pushing PJM to near-record demand, signaling storage adoption entering real-world grid operations at scale.
FERC votes tomorrow on grid rule that unlocks hundreds of GW of storage
FERC's June 18 ruling on large-load grid interconnection will set the first federal standard for data centers and battery storage connecting directly to the interstate transmission system, reshaping economics across PJM and three other major grids.
U.S. battery storage capacity to surge 51% in 2026, largest build ever
New EIA data shows U.S. utility-scale battery storage will add record 24 GW capacity in 2026, jumping from 44.6 GW to 67.5 GW, a structural shift that reshapes grid economics and regional power markets.
Illinois energy storage mandate enters force in 17 days, triggering $9.7B procurement
Illinois's Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act takes effect June 1, activating a 3,000 MW storage mandate with an August 2026 procurement for 1,038 MW, reshaping capacity markets across MISO and PJM.
FERC delays large-load rule by 2 months, threatening data center power timeline
FERC pushed its June 2026 deadline for landmark large-load interconnection rules past the DOE's April mandate, as 86 GW of new grid demand waits for connection protocols.
FERC locks PJM capacity prices through 2029, shielding 67M ratepayers from spike
FERC approved PJM's price collar for 2028-29 and 2029-30 auctions, capping wholesale prices at $325/MW-day instead of a projected $550/MW-day, driven by explosive data center demand growth.
DOE's coal order expires May 24, 4.4 GW hangs in the balance
The Department of Energy's emergency order keeping Pennsylvania's Eddystone coal plant online expires in three weeks, exposing the grid's true capacity crisis.
FERC locks June 2026 deadline for data center grid rules
FERC commits to finalizing large-load interconnection rules by June 2026, setting national standards for how data centers access the grid as 86 GW of new capacity floods the pipeline.
FERC Misses DOE Deadline on Data Center Grid Access Rule
FERC will vote in June 2026 on federal authority to regulate how data centers and large industrial loads connect to the transmission grid, missing DOE's April 30 deadline by two months and raising questions about whether legal durability will actually arrive.
FERC Sets June 2026 Deadline to Rewrite Large-Load Grid Rules
FERC committed yesterday to finalize rules by June 2026 on how massive new power users — primarily AI data centres — pay for grid upgrades, a decision worth billions in transmission costs across the U.S. interconnection system.
TenneT signs 200 MW battery as grid congestion tool, not energy asset
Dutch grid operator TenneT contracted a 200 MW / 800 MWh battery from GES to dispatch on demand for congestion relief—a structural shift from merchant storage toward dispatchable network infrastructure that European and U.S. regulators are watching.
EIA's April STEO: Hormuz Crisis Reshapes U.S. Grid Math for Storage
Today's EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook reveals U.S. electricity demand rising 3% this summer as Strait of Hormuz shutdowns tighten gas supplies—forcing 24 GW of battery storage online in 2026, a 56% surge from record 2025.
FERC's 28-Day Deadline Will Redraw Federal Grid Authority
FERC faces April 30 deadline to finalize unprecedented rulemaking on large-load interconnection to transmission systems, a decision that will determine whether the federal government or states control how AI data centers connect to the grid.
SunZia Turbines Complete as U.S. Grid Targets Record 86 GW in 2026
Pattern Energy's SunZia Wind completed installation of all 916 turbines in New Mexico as EIA projects a record 86 GW of new U.S. utility-scale capacity in 2026 — nearly doubling 2025 additions.
Form Energy Secures 12 GWh Iron-Air Deal With Crusoe for AI Data Centers
Form Energy and Crusoe announced a 12 GWh iron-air battery agreement on March 24, 2026, establishing a direct-to-data-center supply model that bypasses traditional utility offtake structures.
DOE Closes $26.5B Southern Company Loan, Largest in Agency History
The DOE closed a $26.5 billion loan to Georgia Power and Alabama Power — the largest in agency history — to fund 16+ GW of mixed capacity across 200+ projects as data center load surges.
Michigan PSC Approves Consumers Energy Grid Reliability Plan for 2 Million Customers
Michigan's PSC approved Consumers Energy's 2026 Reliability Action Plan on March 27, directing $0.75 of every customer dollar to grid hardening for nearly 2 million homes and businesses — a signal that distribution-level infrastructure is now the regulatory priority as U.S. load growth accelerates.
Doral Renewables Closes $900M Cold Creek Solar-Storage Financing
Doral Renewables closed ~$900M in construction financing for its 430 MWac / 340 MWh Cold Creek Solar + Storage project in West Texas on March 24, 2026, issuing a Notice to Proceed ahead of the July 4, 2026 IRA construction deadline.
TotalEnergies Surrenders 4 GW of U.S. Offshore Wind for $928M
TotalEnergies relinquished two U.S. offshore wind leases on March 23, 2026, erasing 4+ GW of planned capacity and accepting a $928M dollar-for-dollar federal buyback — the Trump DOI's most effective policy instrument yet against the sector.