energy
Articles under the energy category.
AI’s Power Crunch Is Forcing A New U.S. Grid Playbook
Federal loan guarantees and sharper load forecasts show the U.S. grid shifting from planning to execution. Hyperscalers and utilities are racing to secure 24 hour supply with dispatchable capacity, big battery hybrids, selective on site generation, and next generation contracts.
Transmission’s make-or-break year starts with FERC 1920-A
FERC Order 1920-A starts the clock on 20-year regional transmission planning. See who files when, how states can lock cost allocation, which projects are likely to move first, and how to de-risk bids over the next 6 to 18 months.
Methane Showdown: U.S. Rollback vs Europe’s Clean-Gas Rules
Washington is moving to unwind the methane fee and pare back federal reporting just as Europe locks in strict 2027 import rules. With MethaneSAT lost in July, U.S. LNG and oil now need measurement and verification that can withstand customs‑level scrutiny.
Carbon pipelines rerouted as states reshape Corn Belt CCS
State decisions in 2025 reshaped Midwestern CO2 pipeline routes and storage plans. Iowa stayed the trunkline anchor, South Dakota shifted to voluntary easements only, and finance now leans on bankable 45Q while 45Z value settles in.
Enhanced Geothermal Goes Big: Cape Station’s 500 MW Moment
Fervo Energy has upsized Cape Station in Utah to 500 megawatts with real offtakes, named equipment, and first power set for 2026. Here is why engineered geothermal just moved into the firm, bankable core of the Western grid.
45V’s Final Rules Reset Where America Builds Clean Hydrogen
Treasury’s January 2025 rulebook for Section 45V makes the three pillars real. Incrementality, deliverability, and hourly matching by 2030 will shape where electrolyzers get built, how PPAs and certificates are written, and which hubs and industries scale first.
Fusion’s real start date: DOE’s roadmap and sprint
On October 14, 2025, the Department of Energy unveiled a fusion roadmap that puts dates on paper. With an NRC licensing framework pending, new public funding, hyperscaler offtakes, and magnet supply chain buildout, the next 24 to 36 months will determine how fast pilot plants reach the grid.
The storage pivot: new FEOC rules and ERCOT ascendant
A 2025 policy wave tied the storage ITC to a new material assistance cost ratio with rising 2026-2029 thresholds, just as ERCOT passes CAISO on operating capacity. Here is what changed, how to model the cliff, and four plays that keep projects pencilable.
Texas Energy Fund 2025: Will cheap loans deliver firm power?
Texas has begun approving low‑interest loans for new gas plants under the Texas Energy Fund. We map the 2025 pipeline, flag the projects most likely to hit notice to proceed, and test how added dispatchable megawatts could reshape ERCOT by 2028.
Solar Tariff Shock 2025: How U.S. Supply Rebuilds by 2027
A field guide for developers and buyers navigating new AD/CVD duties on Southeast Asian solar imports. Learn how to pivot sourcing, win the domestic content bonus, rebase PPAs and schedules, and spot the surprise winners.
45Z Goes Live: How New Rules Rewire U.S. Clean Fuels
Section 45Z flipped on January 1, 2025 and is already moving margins. With IRS and Treasury guidance on January 10 and late May updates, the winners are producers that register on time, document wage compliance, and design for LCFS plus low lifecycle emissions.
AI’s power scramble is rewriting the U.S. grid in 2025
Hyperscale AI demand is colliding with a constrained grid. Utilities are racing to add batteries, sign 24/7 clean power deals, and permit on-site gas microgrids. See where projects, policies, and capital are moving next.
FERC’s 1920-A puts states in charge of grid expansion
A plain-English guide to FERC Order 1920-A and what it means for 20-year regional transmission planning. See how stronger state roles, upfront cost allocation, and right-sizing can turn 2026 from planning into projects.
Europe Becomes the Methane Regulator for U.S. Oil and Gas
With the U.S. methane fee shelved in 2025, leverage shifted to export markets. Europe’s phased reporting and future methane intensity limits now decide which American barrels and LNG cargoes keep access, win premiums, or face discounts.
SB 254 flips the switch on public grid finance in California
California just changed who pays to build long lines. SB 254 creates a state-run transmission accelerator, a revolving fund, and a wildfire reset that can cut carrying costs and unlock stalled CAISO projects.
Geothermal’s 2025 inflection: Cape Station sparks oilfield build
Two milestones in 2025 push enhanced geothermal from pilot to program: a September equipment award for Cape Station Phase II and a June appraisal well that hit near 500°F at record depth. Here is how EGS plus ORC can deliver 24/7, fuel-free capacity across the West from 2026 to 2030.
FERC approves 2025 IBR rules that make grid support mandatory
FERC’s 2025 approval of inverter-based resource reliability standards turns grid support from best effort to requirement. This playbook shows developers, owners, and grid operators how to comply in 2025 to 2026 and convert upgrades into revenue.
LNG Whiplash 2025: CP2, Commonwealth and Delfin reset the buildout
Washington’s permit restart uncorked a wave of U.S. LNG approvals. Here is what can truly reach FID and first cargo by 2026–2030, and how it will ripple through Henry Hub, Europe, Asia, and shipping.