Battery storage jumps 51% in one year as grid adds record 86 GW
U.S. utility-scale battery storage will surge to 67.5 GW by end-2026, a 51% annual increase, as developers plan a record 86 GW of new capacity led by solar and storage in a structural shift away from fossil fuels.
DOE Releases $1.9B Grid Transmission Funding; May 20 Deadline Looms
The Department of Energy opened a $1.9 billion transmission funding window under the SPARK program, with applications due May 20, targeting reconductoring and advanced grid tech to unlock 86 GW of new capacity planned for 2026.
NRC Part 53 Takes Effect April 29—First New Nuclear Licensing Framework in 37 Years
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Part 53 rule—the first new reactor licensing framework since 1989—goes live April 29, 2026, enabling advanced reactor developers to file applications without legacy light-water reactor exemptions for the first time.
EIA Projects Record 86 GW Grid Capacity in 2026, Battery Storage Surges
The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects 86 GW of new electric generating capacity in 2026—the largest buildout year on record—with utility-scale battery storage jumping 60% to 24 GW, driven by data center demand and DOE capital reshaping grid economics.
Normal Computing Raises $50M Led by Samsung Catalyst for Thermodynamic AI Chip
Normal Computing closed a $50M Series B led by Samsung Catalyst Fund on March 25, 2026, backing the world's first thermodynamic computing chip and an AI-native EDA platform already deployed at more than half of the top 10 semiconductor firms by revenue.