Author: Graham Foster

Dive Brief: The Nevada Public Utilities Commission recently approved a plan for NV Energy’s utilities, namely Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power, to join the Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM) formed by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). This decision will be effective in the fall of 2028, allowing NV Energy to tap into a wider energy network and enhance participation from distributed energy resources in the wholesale market. The commission noted CAISO’s adaptive governance and quick response capabilities in emergency situations as essential factors in their approval. Dive Insight: Two day-ahead markets are currently emerging in the West: EDAM and…

In recent years, many companies have claimed substantial progress towards clean energy usage, presenting reports that highlight a complete shift away from fossil fuels. However, the reality often tells a different story. Despite the growing trend of declaring a 100% reliance on renewable energy from sources like wind and solar, the current framework for assessing greenhouse gas emissions permits these claims, even if they don’t align with actual energy use. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol, which sets the standard for emissions accounting globally, offers guidelines that allow companies to assert they use clean energy, based on the purchase of energy certificates…

Creating energy infrastructure is a long and costly process, often taking years and involving billions of dollars alongside significant political efforts. According to researchers from three universities, investing in better data is a more efficient way to improve energy systems at a fraction of the cost. Source

An Amazon-backed nuclear reactor company, X-energy, is preparing to go public as interest in nuclear energy grows. The company has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) with the Securities and Exchange Commission, aiming for a debut in early summer. Small modular reactors (SMRs) like the one X-energy is developing are increasingly seen as a solution to meet the rising electricity demand driven by data centers and the shift to electric cars and appliances. Current projections show that electricity demand from U.S. data centers may jump from 34.7 gigawatts in 2024 to 106 gigawatts by 2035, according to BloombergNEF. X-energy’s…

Europe’s electricity grid operators are urging significant reforms across the continent following last year’s Iberian blackout. This call to action comes from ENTSO-E, the body representing various grid operators. The blackout, which occurred on April 28, 2022, affected nearly 60 million people in Spain and Portugal. It was described as a unique event, raising concerns about the stability of a power system that has shifted dramatically due to the growth of wind and solar energy sources. The incident led to increased scrutiny of renewable energy and questions about Spain’s plans to eliminate nuclear power. On the day of the blackout,…

Spain is standing firm in defense of the EU carbon trading system, stating that dismantling it amid the energy price crisis triggered by the Iran war would be a major mistake. Italy and several other countries are pushing to suspend the emissions trading system (ETS), which accounts for about 11% of energy costs, to ease market pressures following the closure of key oil and gas transit routes. Sara Aagesen Muñoz, Spain’s energy minister, expressed concern that using this crisis to alter a functioning system would be irresponsible. She emphasized the importance of maintaining the ETS while reflecting on lessons learned…

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Attendees at the National Facilities Management & Technology East 2026 conference learned that effective energy management systems can significantly reduce electricity costs. Richard Fox, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Sanalife Energy, emphasized the importance of managing peak energy demand. Fox explained that utilities charge demand fees based on the highest amount of electricity a facility uses, which incentivizes businesses to lower their peak load. According to him, failing to do so can lead to significant increases in costs. He shared that demand charges can go as high as $70 per kilowatt. “Every kilowatt you can reduce…

There are significant warning signs for the PJM Interconnection’s capacity market and grid reliability, primarily due to the rapid growth of data centers, according to the grid operator’s independent market monitor. Recent capacity auctions have revealed a concerning trend: the gap between available capacity and reserve margin targets is widening. In the latest auction for 2026/2027, the shortfall was approximately 210 MW and increased dramatically to about 6,520 MW for 2027/2028. This information comes from Monitoring Analytics and their annual report focusing on PJM’s markets. The effects of these changes are being felt financially. In 2025, wholesale power costs in…

US oil companies could gain more than $60 billion this year if crude oil prices remain high, thanks to the current situation regarding Iran. According to investment bank Jefferies, US producers are expected to see an increase of about $5 billion in cash flow this month, with oil prices rising nearly 47% since the crisis began on February 28. If US oil prices average around $100 a barrel for the year, companies stand to gain around $63.4 billion from production, claims energy research firm Rystad. Recently, Brent crude prices passed the $100 mark, leading President Donald Trump to announce that…

Summary: Key Insights: President Biden introduced the GRIP program in 2023, aiming to distribute up to $10.5 billion in funding over a five-year period. By late 2024, around $7.4 billion in awards had been announced according to the Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE has not yet provided updates on the status of these awards. They mentioned that the program’s new name aligns with its mission, focusing on swift advancements in reconductoring and other advanced transmission technologies (ATTs). Julia Selker, the executive director of the WATT Coalition, highlighted that ATTs can lead to substantial savings for electric utilities and this…