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.
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.
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.
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.
Form Energy's 30 GWh Iron-Air Battery Resets Long-Duration Storage
Minnesota's PUC tariff vote, expected by mid-May 2026, is the regulatory gate for the Xcel-Google-Form Energy 300 MW / 30 GWh iron-air battery — the largest announced storage project by energy capacity in history.