Author: Graham Foster

Key Details: Massachusetts is launching bidirectional electric vehicle (EV) chargers at no cost for selected customers. This initiative is part of a two-year demonstration program aimed at exploring how residential, municipal, and school customers can use EV batteries for backup power and improving energy self-consumption. According to Elijah Sinclair, a senior program manager at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, the goal is to have between 70 and 80 chargers installed by the end of summer. The program includes five school districts, four municipal entities, and over 45 residents. Early data from participating school districts suggest that electric buses could both…

America’s water utilities face significant challenges, stemming from outdated infrastructure, stricter regulations, and rising demands on their systems. As these utilities strive to implement necessary upgrades, they must also manage affordability, workforce shortages, and accountability to the public. In this evolving landscape of infrastructure investment, the focus has shifted from just identifying needed projects to figuring out how to execute them efficiently, with less risk involved. This change is influencing how projects are delivered. Traditionally, utilities used the Design-Bid-Build (DBB) model, which separates engineering from construction. This often leads to risks being identified late in the process, causing coordination issues…

Entergy is working on a significant number of power projects, mainly gas-fired, which represent nearly a third of the nearly 28 GW in the fast-track interconnection queue of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). This information comes from an analysis of the latest list released on Wednesday. Approximately 70% of Entergy’s new capacity additions, which span Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, are aimed at supporting planned data center complexes, as noted in MISO’s summary of projects in its Expedited Resource Addition Study (ERAS). The company anticipates that its retail sales will rise by 8.5% annually through 2030, driven in part by…

Key Insights: Large customers are increasingly keen on utilizing clean technologies like advanced geothermal systems and small modular nuclear reactors. A recent report from the Corporate Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) highlights how clean energy tariffs and customer-utility agreements are paving the way for safer and more commercial deployment of these technologies. Priya Barua, the CEBA’s senior director of utility partnerships, mentioned that these arrangements can help bring development costs down, similar to what happened with solar and wind energy. The aim is to move towards broader acceptance and affordability of such technologies. According to the CEBA report, clean energy tariffs…

Key Insights: American Electric Power (AEP), FirstEnergy, and other utility companies in Ohio could gain ownership of nuclear power plants through a new bill introduced in the Ohio House. The proposed House Bill 862 limits the costs of a nuclear plant to those customers who agree to buy its output through long-term contracts. The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association recently criticized the bill, claiming it revives a controversial past that favors monopoly utilities while placing financial risks on consumers. Detailed Overview: AEP, based in Columbus, is currently looking into developing small modular nuclear projects in Indiana and Virginia, both of which are…

Evergy is optimistic about its future, projecting a retail sales growth of 7% to 8% annually through 2030. This upbeat forecast marks an increase from their earlier estimate of 6%. The company’s leaders shared this information during a recent earnings conference call. Recently, Evergy has secured a new electric service agreement with a significant customer, raising its total demand from large load contracts to 2.5 gigawatts (GW), up from 1.9 GW three months ago. David Campbell, the chairman, president, and CEO of Evergy, mentioned that the company expects to finalize at least one more such agreement this year. Furthermore, Evergy…

Eversource Energy’s CEO, Joe Nolan, expressed his disinterest in the establishment of data centers within the company’s service areas. During the company’s first-quarter earnings call, he stated that such developments would likely lead to increased energy prices, which would not benefit residential customers or any customers for that matter. Nolan highlighted the stability of the energy market in New England compared to other regions, specifically noting the lower volatility in prices. Despite this, Eversource’s recent quarterly report revealed an increase in wholesale market prices from $99.02 per megawatt-hour (MWh) to $112.71 MWh over the past year. In a more positive…

Grid reliability is fundamentally rooted in effective planning and solid engineering. However, a growing issue is that key equipment is taking significantly longer to arrive. Even when a project is fully designed and all systems are go, delays can still occur in the timeline. These delays often happen at critical moments when crews are ready to proceed, pending construction tasks are queued, and essential equipment like transformers or switchgear is yet to be delivered. As a result, procurement is increasingly critical for determining whether projects progress smoothly or face setbacks when timeliness is vital. Utilities are feeling this pressure in…

Sunrun, the leading installer of home solar and energy storage solutions in the U.S., reported a significant decline in subscriber growth. In the first quarter of 2026, the company signed up 25% fewer customers compared to the same period in 2025. Along with this, the addition of solar and battery capacity dropped by 19% and 15% respectively, as stated by the company on Wednesday. The downturn in sales is attributed to a decline in lead generation and sales activities that began in mid-2025. This was influenced by uncertainty surrounding the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and Sunrun’s choice to limit…

Meta has announced a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with EDP Renewables North America. This deal allows Meta to source energy from the Cypress Knee Solar project, which EDP is set to establish in southeast Arkansas. The announcement was made on Monday. EDP expects the Cypress Knee Solar project to be completed by 2028. The project is projected to begin commercial operations in the upcoming year. According to EDP, Cypress Knee Solar is projected to generate over $25 million in additional funds for Chicot County through an Industrial Revenue Bond agreement throughout its 30-year lifespan. This agreement marks the third…