Known as EVE@PNNL, the program will leverage AI to detect and thwart attacks (both cyber and physical) targeting the country’s bulk electric system. The lab is also developing adaptive grid controls and protection schemes, such as autonomous reconfiguration and controlled islanding.

The program will eventually grow into a new National Security Research Center, creating a defense network linking national labs and federal agencies.

Start your engines: In late 2025, the automaker announced plans to break into the ballooning BESS market by revamping a Kentucky manufacturing facility. Now, the newly unveiled Ford Energy is putting the pedal to the metal.

Ford Energy will sell BESS (made fully in-house) to US utilities, data centers, and large industrial and commercial customers. The company plans to roll out >20 GWh per year, and the first customer deliveries are slated for late 2027.

While we’re here: In 2025, global energy storage additions rose 48% to 112 GW (the first year to pass the 100-GW mark). China remains the undisputed heavyweight with a 54% market share, followed by the US at 16%

The shortage: A supply-demand imbalance has pushed transformer prices up 80% over the past five years. Lead times for high-capacity units now stretch up to four years, driven by a 274% demand spike since 2019.

To mitigate risk, developers are paying heavy premiums to lock in manufacturing slots…before they even have a specific project tied to them. The alternative? Transmission lines sitting idle for years.

The shortcut in question: Traditional interconnections require years of studies and "firm" capacity guarantees. But Energy Resource Interconnection Service (ERIS) lets plants plug in quickly (and relatively cheaply) by agreeing to be curtailed during grid congestion.

To unlock these savings, RMI argues PJM must move ERIS projects to a separate, faster track and manage overflows with real-time curtailment, à la ERCOT.

Bottom line: The "non-firm" resources ideal for ERIS often outperform incumbents amid grid stress (like PJM’s onshore wind fleet during Winter Storm Elliott). Properly accrediting these contributions could make the ERIS fast-track the new industry standard.

The win: Constellation reached $11B in revenue last quarter, beating Wall Street estimates—thanks to newly acquired Calpine gas assets and a record-breaking demand surge. 

The loss: It’s a different story in New England, where Eversource is staring down a $932M loss (following a FERC decision to slash its base ROE to 9.57%, which the company is working to appeal).

The divide: The two companies couldn’t be further apart on data centers. While Constellation is building its strategy around them, Eversource CEO Joe Nolan called the facilities a "no value" proposition for ratepayers. Instead, he’s betting on offshore wind—and lower market volatility—to protect customers.

Back up: Consumers is seeking state approval to sell its 13 aging MI hydro dams for $1 each to Confluence Hydro, a subsidiary of PE firm Hull Street Energy. The catch? Consumers would then buy back the power for 30 years (at 2X the market rate) to fund the dams’ upkeep.

The federal play: Meanwhile, the DOE is resuming negotiations to distribute $23M in Biden-era safety incentives across 10 of these dams. Critics say the PE firm could eventually pocket this federal cash—while failing to properly repair dams amid flooding fears.

The pair are reportedly investing a combined $1B into VoltaGrid, a gas-powered microgrids startup (the deal values the company at >$10B). VoltaGrid has emerged as the industry's favorite interconnection queue workaround—its mobile, gas-fired units let data centers spin up AI workloads almost immediately.