Coal- and gas-fired power plants have a new best friend: data centers

The data center boom is here to stay, but so is climate change. Load growth is not an excuse to reverse progress and renew dependence on fossil fuel energy.

By Abbe Ramanan • July 25, 2025

NRC approvals move Palisades nuclear plant closer to restart

The Palisades plant is now authorized to receive new fuel and formally transition licensed reactor operators to on-shift status, Holtec International said in a statement.

By Robert Walton • July 25, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

FERC orders changes to PJM’s grid interconnection process, plus 3 other open meeting takeaways

Required changes include cost allocation for network upgrades, consideration of grid-enhancing technologies and energy storage modeling.

By Ethan Howland • July 25, 2025

US electricity demand to grow 2.5% annually through 2035: BofA Institute

Building electrification, data centers, industrial growth and electric vehicles are among the factors contributing to growth, according to the prediction.

By Robert Walton • July 24, 2025

FERC approves $16.4B Constellation-Calpine deal

As part of the deal, Constellation Energy agreed to sell four power plants in the PJM Interconnection to reduce its ability to exert market power.

By Ethan Howland • July 24, 2025

Energy Department’s flawed grid study props up expensive, zombie power plants

The most effective way to maintain grid reliability is to let planners plan, markets work and utilities build the resources they’ve already identified as the most affordable path forward.

By Matthias Fripp and Brendan Pierpont • July 24, 2025

The IRA rollback is a disaster for energy. Industry leaders must move fast.

Project changes will require meticulous due diligence involving legal and finance teams. Those who can show robust tracking and tracing protocols may be among the biggest winners.

By Anna Shpitsberg • July 23, 2025

FERC approves MISO, SPP fast-track interconnection reviews

Gas-fired power plants will likely make up most of the projects selected for the expedited reviews, according to ClearView Energy Partners.

By Ethan Howland • Updated July 24, 2025

PJM capacity prices set another record with 22% jump

The Trump administration will likely seize on the auction results to justify keeping thermal power plants, namely coal, in PJM from retiring, according to analysts with Capstone.

By Ethan Howland • July 23, 2025

PJM leadership openings are an opportunity to chart a new course

Rather than addressing the root causes of its problems, the organization blames states for supply and infrastructure shortages, often defending the very policies that are driving up customer costs.

By David Lapp • July 22, 2025

Why the nuclear energy renaissance is real — and necessary

The technologies, economics and motivations driving the modern nuclear revival differ fundamentally from what came before.

By Erik Funkhouser • July 21, 2025

FERC rejects MISO petition to limit market monitor’s transmission planning oversight

The dispute grew out of Potomac Economics’ criticism of assumptions the Midcontinent Independent System Operator used to justify a roughly $22 billion transmission expansion plan.

By Ethan Howland • July 21, 2025

Governing AI in utilities: Insights from West Monroe’s AI summit

AI's rapid growth brings opportunities and risks, requiring proactive, structured adaptation.

By Maria Quimpo, Director, Utilities, West Monroe and Betsy Soehren Jones, Partner, Utilities, West Monroe • July 21, 2025

Southern Co. taps SwissDrones for unmanned helicopter monitoring

A recent executive order from President Donald Trump may allow other utilities to follow suit in using unmanned aircraft for grid inspections.

By Diana DiGangi • July 18, 2025

Trump wants to use AI to prevent wildfires. Utilities are trying. Will it work?

The president wants to remake wildfire policy with an increased emphasis on technology and a new, consolidated federal wildland fire service. Experts have mixed reactions.

By Emma Penrod • Updated July 23, 2025

Governors seek more influence over PJM amid ‘crisis of confidence’

Nine governors representing the majority of electric customers in the grid operator’s footprint said they want a say in filling two vacant board seats. 

By Ethan Howland • Updated July 18, 2025

Trump taps Project 2025 contributor to fill vacant FERC seat

David LaCerte works at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. He served during Trump’s first term and helped on Project 2025, the conservative road map to “deconstruct the Administrative State.”

By Ethan Howland • July 17, 2025

Law judge calls for Minnesota PUC to reject $6.2B Allete private equity deal

The proposed private equity model isn’t in the public interest, an administrative law judge said.

By Ethan Howland • July 16, 2025

The regulator’s dilemma: balancing grid modernization with rising power bills

Load growth and aging infrastructure require investment, but customer electricity prices are up 4.5% nationally, almost twice the 2.4% national inflation rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 15, 2025

Will FERC stand up for competitive power markets? Our grid depends on it.

With hundreds of billions of dollars expected to be spent on grid projects, it’s time for FERC to reaffirm its commitment to market competition — and prevent utility self-dealing.

By Andrew Waranch • July 14, 2025

Adapting utility tariffs for data center driven load growth

Data center development is driving unprecedented electricity demand growth. Read how this is creating operational, financial and regulatory challenges and opportunities.

By Eric Brooks and Justin Stevens • July 14, 2025

Ignoring customers is unsustainable and bad policy

Enabling flexible customer demand can drive significant system-wide benefits while mitigating the cost or timing of expensive system upgrades.

By Kent Chandler, Chris Villarreal and Michael Giberson • July 11, 2025

Environmental, consumer advocates sue Bonneville for joining SPP’s day-ahead market

Plaintiffs say the agency's decision to join Markets+ will increase the risk of blackouts compared to joining CAISO’s Extended Day-Ahead Market or a “no-action” alternative.

By Ethan Howland • July 11, 2025

Misaligned interconnection, transmission planning could hurt competitive markets: FERC’s Chang

Getting generation online as quickly as possible is a key priority, according to Commissioner Judy Chang. “We should plan, design, permit — all faster."

By Ethan Howland • July 11, 2025

Ohio regulators approve AEP data center interconnection rules

The Ohio PUC ordered the utility to file updated tariffs and lift a moratorium on connecting new data centers as soon as possible.

By Meris Lutz • July 10, 2025