News

POLITICO reports on a new nuclear bill under consideration by New Jersey lawmakers, which could potentially drive up energy costs for consumers. United's Katie Mettle noted that, while supportive of nuclear energy generally, the bill lacks safeguards on costs or timelines, and expressed concern that ratepayers would be paying for a costly and time-consuming endeavor with no immediate benefits.

The Center Square reports on rising load growth, rising energy costs, and rising reliability issues within Pennsylvania and the broader PJM region. United's Chris D'Agostino emphasized the importance of smart integrated energy planning to help optimize utility operations and investments, meet growing energy demand, and increase energy affordability for state residents.

In an interview with KXAN, Matthew Boms, Executive Director of the Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance (United's state affiliate), stated that the Texas grid is well-equipped to withstand the Texas winter, pointing to the increased use of renewables in strengthening the state's power system.

The Texas Tribune reports on Oncor's proposed high-voltage transmission line. Matthew Boms, Executive Director of the Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance, stated that the PUC’s decision to use the 765 kV lines is the best choice for Texas to reduce environmental damage, increase energy efficiency, and meet rising load growth across the state.

In an episode of the Volts Podcast, United's Brian Turner and Western Freedom's Kathleen Staks discuss the newly authorized Regional Organization for Western Energy (ROWE), a unique “à la carte” regional transmission organization designed to unify the western U.S. grid without trampling on state independence.

KXAN reports that ERCOT’s board is expected to discuss the increase in data centers and crypto mining facilities opening in Texas, sparking concerns over rising load growth and grid reliability. Matthew Boms, Executive Director of the Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance, encouraged these facilities to bring on their own generation to help reduce grid strain and offset ratepayer costs.

Heatmap News reports on PJM Interconnection's escalating debate over how to manage demand. United's Jon Gordon provides context throughout the piece on PJM’s pending rule changes, the competing stakeholder proposals, and the challenge of balancing reliability, consumer protection, and rapid data center growth.

Axios Austin reports on the rollback of key federal incentives from H.R. 1, and the impacts they pose on Texas' advanced energy economy. Matthew Boms of the Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance (TAEBA) discussed the benefits of advanced energy solutions in bolstering Texas' grid, highlighting that wind and solar supplied about one-third of all power for the Texas grid operator, ERCOT.

Utility Dive reports that PJM stakeholders failed to reach consensus on a set of proposals to govern how large loads, such as data centers, connect to the grid. In a bulletin on the meeting, United’s Jon Gordon said the vote highlights the difficulty of balancing resource adequacy, ratepayer costs, and rapid data center growth in a region already facing generation shortfalls and long timelines for new capacity.

The Center Square reports on the election outcomes in New Jersey and Virginia, where Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger won their gubernatorial races. United's Virginia Director Jim Purekal and New Jersey Policy Lead Katie Mettle highlighted the future governors' focus on lowering energy prices through clean energy as a key component of their victories.