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Good morning. The clean energy transition doesn’t just depend on infrastructure—it hinges on narrative, too. And as public skepticism over the power sector grows, telling the right stories is more important than ever. In the latest episode of Power Perspectives, we got the energy storytelling do’s and don’ts from Sammy Roth, former climate columnist at the Los Angeles Times and the voice behind the Climate-Colored Goggles Substack. Listen here, and drop your thoughts in the comments.
P.S. Utilities are creating regulator-ready approaches to capital planning. Learn more at an Energy Central webinar this Wednesday with our partners at IFS Copperleaf.
— Molly, Carrie, and the Energy Central editorial team
Waiting to flip the switch? See how bridge power solutions give you reliable prime power today and a resiliency asset tomorrow.
The DOE will make good on a $460M grant for new Midwest high-voltage transmission lines.
It’s about time: Awarded in 2023, this cash will finally head to projects in six states across the SPP and MISO footprints (including IA, KS, MN, and the Dakotas). It’s projected to spur over $1B in additional private investment. Meanwhile, plenty of other DOE awards remain in limbo.
In other RTO news, PJM wants to raise the minimum capitalization thresholds required to participate in its energy market. The goal? To catch up with inflation and shield market participants from default. Similar net worth requirements have been set by organizations like SPP, MISO, and ERCOT.
Can startup Curio launch the country’s first nuclear fuel recycling facility?
The latest: The D.C.-based company has begun the NRC application process for a facility designed to process up to 4K metric tons per year of used fuel from commercial light-water reactors.
The background: Curio claims its process avoids proliferation hazards because it doesn’t produce pure plutonium. Last fall, the company demonstrated its tech with the Idaho, Oak Ridge, Pacific Northwest, and Sandia National Laboratories.
The competition: Curio is among several buzzy startups currently developing nuclear fuel recycling tech. In February, the DOE handed over $19M to five of these companies (including Curio, Oklo, and Shine).
The DOE is upending a program that helped homes switch from gas to electric appliances.
Per new DOE guidance, US households can’t use rebate funds from an IRA program to swap fossil fuel-powered appliances with electric alternatives. Instead, that money must go toward electric-to-electric swaps…scrapping the program’s entire point.
The DOE has also rendered ENERGY STAR—a popular program President Donald Trump has tried to end—optional in states.
Smarter meters are reshaping grid operations. Tune in on June 9 to find out how Sense turns real-time data into faster fixes, sharper decisions, and stronger customer programs across the grid.
New York is officially in business with Hydro-Québec. 🤝
Yesterday, Canada’s largest electric utility kicked off its contract with NYSERDA. Now, the 1.3-GW Champlain Hudson Power Express hydro transmission line can deliver Hydro-Québec’s leftover summer capacity to New York City. (Last month, the line went live ahead of schedule.)
Plug-in solar bills keep progressing across the country.
New York’s bill is headed to the desk of Gov. Kathy Hochul. It would allow residents to purchase small solar panels (up to 1.2 kW) to power home devices, like air conditioners, without paying utilities.
Also on the docket: Last month, the California Senate passed its own bill to greenlight plug-in solar; now, it heads to the state assembly. Bills are also awaiting governor signatures in New Hampshire and Connecticut.
Two blackouts hit the US Virgin Islands last weekend. Can battery storage help?
These outages resulted from the loss of generation at a power plant, the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority said. To reduce blackouts, the utility will add temporary generation and increase battery storage at a main power plant. Outages are increasingly common as the territory deals with hurricanes, aging infrastructure, and deferred maintenance.
📍Modernization doesn’t have to come with disruption. Utilities can build a flexible, scalable foundation that supports both today’s demands and tomorrow’s innovations, including AI-driven load forecasting—without costly overhauls. Get the rundown from our partners at Semtech.
Rising energy costs are reshaping grid operations. Tune in to hear how utilities and energy users can improve reliability, manage costs, and unlock more value from energy assets in real time.
Thanks for reading. Seize the day!