pipeline
Generation
The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects the U.S. benchmark natural gas spot price at the Henry Hub to decrease about 2% to just under $3.50 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in 2026 before rising sharply in 2027 to just under $4.60/MMBtu, according to its January Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO).
towers at dusk
Electricity Markets
Interim PJM Interconnection President and CEO David Mills opened a conversation with stakeholders Jan. 22 about how PJM will approach directives from the PJM Board of Managers, the White House and the 13 governors in the PJM footprint to design and implement a backstop auction in the near term.
coal plant
Reliability
In the week ending January 25, 2026, as Winter Storm Fern affected significant portions of the country, coal-fired electricity generation in the Lower 48 states increased 31% from the previous week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported on Jan. 28.
wind
Distributed Energy Resources
The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Jan. 27 issued a decision to allow Vineyard Wind to resume full activities in its lease area on the Outer Continental Shelf.
Newly installed Missouri River Energy Services transmission lines
Grid Modernization
What opportunities and strategies public power utilities are finding work to overcome interconnection delays, changing market conditions, and regulatory uncertainty for their infrastructure projects.
truck
Disaster Response and Mutual Aid
While impacted public power utilities, investor-owned electric companies and electric cooperatives have already restored power to nearly 750,000 customers as of 9:00 a.m. (ET) on Jan. 29 in the wake of Winter Storm Fern, work continues around-the-clock, especially in the communities that saw between 1 and 2 inches of destructive ice accumulations.
Transmission lines at sunset
Grid Modernization
Coldwater Board of Public Utilities, a Michigan public power utility, has deployed artificial intelligence to predict and get ahead of grid outages. In an interview with APPA, CBPU Utility Director Paul Jakubczak outlined how AI is allowing the utility prevent service outages, advance grid
epa
Environment
The Environmental Protection Agency on Jan. 28 issued its proposal to approve interstate transport state implementation plan (SIP) submissions from eight states -- Alabama, Arizona, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, and Tennessee -- for the 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS).
Image of interconnected power lines
Electricity Markets
Utilities and grid operators are focused on making sure the electric grid can always meet demand. This is called resource adequacy. Ensuring resource adequacy involves short- and long-term planning, coordination, and maintenance. Here’s a breakdown of key factors and challenges behind resource
hydro
Generation
FirstLight, a clean power producer, developer and energy storage company, on Jan. 29 announced the expansion of the company’s landmark municipal utility power purchase agreement with Energy New England.