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FERC rejects ComEd notice to cancel Illinois data-center transmission agreement
FERC rejected Commonwealth Edison’s notice to cancel a transmission security agreement for PowerHouse Hillwood’s planned 1.8-GW Joliet data center. The agency declined to decide a disputed credit-support clause, leaving contract interpretation to the courts.
Published automated story · Published September 27, 2026energy-economicsTexas adopts $100,000 study fee and $50,000-per-MW security for large grid loads
The Texas utility commission adopted a new ERCOT interconnection rule for qualifying loads of at least 75 MW. It sets a $100,000 study fee and generally requires $50,000 per MW in intermediate financial security while dropping a proposed non-refundable interconnection fee. The rule's effective date is October 8.
Published automated story · Published September 26, 2026clean-energyNine states challenge offshore wind lease buyouts in separate lawsuits
Eight eastern states sued over two federal offshore-wind lease buyouts totaling about $1.4 billion, while California separately challenged a more-than-$111-million buyout off its coast. These are pending legal challenges, not restored projects or a ruling on the merits.
Published automated story · Published September 26, 2026electrificationGoogle-funded PG&E virtual power plant aims to enroll nearly 21,000 devices
PG&E, Google and Rewiring America say their SHARE pilot aims to enroll nearly 21,000 existing flexible home-energy devices in Bay Area communities. Google will fund the program, but it has not yet demonstrated grid savings.
Published automated story · Published September 26, 2026climate policyMaryland sets review framework for data centers seeking state action
A new Maryland executive order creates a task-force review and public dashboard for proposed data centers of at least 25 MW when they seek state action. Gov. Wes Moore also supports repealing a tax exemption, but that repeal has not happened.
Published automated story · Published September 26, 2026electrificationFervo's Cape Station starts sending geothermal power to the Utah grid
Fervo says the first 33-megawatt unit at its Cape Station enhanced-geothermal project has begun exporting electricity. Two more units are being commissioned for the roughly 100-MW first phase; the larger expansion is still under construction.
Published automated story · Published September 26, 2026electrificationDOE selects 31 grid projects for $1.9 billion in federal support
The Energy Department intends to help fund 31 SPARK grid projects in 26 states. It projects more than 23 GW of added capacity through line upgrades, with $1.9 billion federal and $3.35 billion recipient funding.
Published automated story · Published September 25, 2026electrificationCalifornia signs seven data center bills covering grid costs, energy and water reporting
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed seven bills aimed at making data centers disclose energy and water use and pay for grid upgrades. The package includes rate-structure review and new reporting rules, but the exact cost rules differ by bill.
Published automated story · Published September 25, 2026energy-economicsExelon backs AI grid-planning firm Continuum, plans Optioneer rollout
Exelon’s climate investment arm has taken a minority stake in Continuum Industries, and its utility companies plan to use the Optioneer platform for transmission and infrastructure planning.
Published automated story · Published September 25, 2026energy-economicsJudge restores $7 billion Solar for All program, says EPA ended it illegally
A federal court in Rhode Island vacated EPA's termination of the program, ruling the agency had no authority to cancel grants it had already obligated.
Published automated story · Published September 24, 2026energy-economicsVictoria will make new data centres bring their own renewables and batteries
New rules in the Australian state require data centres to match new demand with new generation, pay for grid upgrades and cool with recycled water.
Published automated story · Published September 24, 2026energy-economicsNew York picks 950 MW of battery storage in its first big storage solicitation
NYSERDA selected eight grid-scale battery projects, the first of three annual rounds toward the state's 6 GW by 2030 storage target.
Published automated story · Published September 24, 2026Electrification · September 27, 2026FERC rejects ComEd notice to cancel Illinois data-center transmission agreement
FERC rejected Commonwealth Edison’s notice to cancel a transmission security agreement for PowerHouse Hillwood’s planned 1.8-GW Joliet data center. The agency declined to decide a disputed credit-support clause, leaving contract interpretation to the courts.
Gemini Daily Brief Bridge · Official source linkedenergy-economics · September 26, 2026Texas adopts $100,000 study fee and $50,000-per-MW security for large grid loads
The Texas utility commission adopted a new ERCOT interconnection rule for qualifying loads of at least 75 MW. It sets a $100,000 study fee and generally requires $50,000 per MW in intermediate financial security while dropping a proposed non-refundable interconnection fee. The rule's effective date is October 8.
Gemini Daily Brief Bridge · Official source linkedclean-energy · September 26, 2026Nine states challenge offshore wind lease buyouts in separate lawsuits
Eight eastern states sued over two federal offshore-wind lease buyouts totaling about $1.4 billion, while California separately challenged a more-than-$111-million buyout off its coast. These are pending legal challenges, not restored projects or a ruling on the merits.
Gemini Daily Brief Bridge · Official source linkedelectrification · September 26, 2026Google-funded PG&E virtual power plant aims to enroll nearly 21,000 devices
PG&E, Google and Rewiring America say their SHARE pilot aims to enroll nearly 21,000 existing flexible home-energy devices in Bay Area communities. Google will fund the program, but it has not yet demonstrated grid savings.
Gemini Daily Brief Bridge · Official source linkedclimate policy · September 26, 2026Maryland sets review framework for data centers seeking state action
A new Maryland executive order creates a task-force review and public dashboard for proposed data centers of at least 25 MW when they seek state action. Gov. Wes Moore also supports repealing a tax exemption, but that repeal has not happened.
Gemini Daily Brief Bridge · Official source linkedelectrification · September 26, 2026Fervo's Cape Station starts sending geothermal power to the Utah grid
Fervo says the first 33-megawatt unit at its Cape Station enhanced-geothermal project has begun exporting electricity. Two more units are being commissioned for the roughly 100-MW first phase; the larger expansion is still under construction.
Gemini Daily Brief Bridge · Official source linkedelectrification · September 25, 2026DOE selects 31 grid projects for $1.9 billion in federal support
The Energy Department intends to help fund 31 SPARK grid projects in 26 states. It projects more than 23 GW of added capacity through line upgrades, with $1.9 billion federal and $3.35 billion recipient funding.
U.S. Department of Energy · Official source linkedelectrification · September 25, 2026California signs seven data center bills covering grid costs, energy and water reporting
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed seven bills aimed at making data centers disclose energy and water use and pay for grid upgrades. The package includes rate-structure review and new reporting rules, but the exact cost rules differ by bill.
Governor of California; Utility Dive · Official source linkedenergy-economics · September 25, 2026Exelon backs AI grid-planning firm Continuum, plans Optioneer rollout
Exelon’s climate investment arm has taken a minority stake in Continuum Industries, and its utility companies plan to use the Optioneer platform for transmission and infrastructure planning.
ESG Dive · Official source linkedenergy-economics · September 24, 2026Judge restores $7 billion Solar for All program, says EPA ended it illegally
A federal court in Rhode Island vacated EPA's termination of the program, ruling the agency had no authority to cancel grants it had already obligated.
Utility Dive · Official source linkedenergy-economics · September 24, 2026Victoria will make new data centres bring their own renewables and batteries
New rules in the Australian state require data centres to match new demand with new generation, pay for grid upgrades and cool with recycled water.
Energy-Storage.news · Official source linkedenergy-economics · September 24, 2026New York picks 950 MW of battery storage in its first big storage solicitation
NYSERDA selected eight grid-scale battery projects, the first of three annual rounds toward the state's 6 GW by 2030 storage target.
Energy-Storage.news · Official source linkedenergy-economics · September 24, 2026California's balcony solar bill is waiting on Newsom
SB 868 would let Californians plug in solar kits up to 1,200 watts without utility approval. It has sat with the governor since Aug. 31; if he does nothing, it takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Canary Media · Official source linkedenergy-costs · September 24, 2026FERC rejects ComEd's bid to cancel deal for 1.8-GW data center backed by $1 credit
FERC turned down ComEd's cancellation of a transmission agreement for a $20 billion Joliet data center whose developer posted a $1 letter of credit, leaving the fight to federal court.
Utility Dive · Official source linkedelectrification · September 24, 2026Sunrun and Tesla home batteries send a record 580 MW to California's grid
About 110,000 Powerwalls and 30,000 other home batteries discharged more than 580 MW during a Sept. 9 heatwave, the largest virtual power plant dispatch on record.
Energy-Storage.News · Official source linkedenergy-economics · September 24, 2026New York approves $3.26 billion Propel NY transmission line
New York regulators approved a 90-mile, $3.26 billion transmission line to move more power, including offshore wind, between Long Island and the rest of the state. It is set to finish in 2030.
Utility Dive · Official source linkedelectrification · September 23, 2026Shipper alliance orders 2,500 electric Class 8 trucks, mostly Tesla Semis
ZET SCALE, an alliance of shippers, carriers and truck makers, has commitments from its members to buy 2,500 battery-electric Class 8 trucks. That equals the total number on US roads today. Tesla is the main supplier.
CleanTechnica · Official source linkedenergy-costs · September 20, 2026PJM's latest auction came up 6.8 GW short
PJM's capacity auction for June 2028-May 2029 fell about 6.8 GW short of its reliability standard as data center demand grows.
The Richmonder · Official source linkedenergy-economics · September 18, 2026Gas storage builds slower than expected
US working gas in storage rose 44 Bcf to 3,298 Bcf for the week ending Sept 11, below the 47-49 Bcf traders expected.
Energy Edge · Official source linkedenergy-economics · September 17, 2026Solar vs Wind Price Divergence: Wind PPA Rates Jump 17.5% as Solar Plunges to $61/MWh
A $22.39/MWh cost gap has opened between utility solar and land-based wind in wholesale power markets, as wind PPA prices rise 17.5% to $83.79/MWh amid permitting bottlenecks while solar drops to $61.40/MWh, encouraging utility interest in solar-plus-storage hybrids.
Gemini Scheduled Task · Official source linkedenergy-economics · September 15, 2026Floating Solar on U.S. Reservoirs: NREL Assessment Shows Floatovoltaics Could Help Meet National Energy Goals
Research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory indicates that deploying floating solar arrays across suitable U.S. reservoirs has the technical potential to generate up to 400 GW of capacity—representing about 10% of national electricity generation—while reducing evaporation and leveraging existing hydroelectric transmission infrastructure.
Gemini Scheduled Task · Official source linkedincentives · September 14, 2026U.S. Department of Energy Updates Guidance and Program Rules for State Home Energy Rebates
The U.S. Department of Energy has released updated program notices and implementation resources for state energy offices administering the $8.8 billion federal Home Energy Rebates framework, clarifying compliance rules and retroactive project requirements.
Gemini Scheduled Brief · Official source linkedenergy-costs · September 14, 2026Global liquefied natural gas trade volumes reached record high in 2025
Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade volumes increased 5.4% to a record 56.3 billion cubic feet per day last year (Bcf/d), driven largely by U.S. LNG export capacity expanding to meet growing demand, according to a recent report from the International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers (GIIGNL). Global LNG trade has slowed this year following the closure of the key export route for Qatar, the world's second-largest LNG exporter.
U.S. Energy Information Administration · Official source linkedenergy-economics · September 14, 2026Low-Rolling-Resistance EV Tires Add 35+ Miles of Range: Why Traditional Cheap Tires Destroy 10% of Electric Car Efficiency
Dedicated low-rolling-resistance electric vehicle tires cut rolling friction by up to 25%, boosting highway range by an estimated 7% to 10% (up to 43 miles per charge), while cheap conventional replacement tires can cause severe range loss and spike annual charging expenses.
Gemini Scheduled Task · Official source linkedWhat we cover
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