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Good morning. GIS professionals know their way around a map…but what about a cornhole court? To find out, join us on July 13 in sunny San Diego. We’re kicking off Esri User Conference week with a cornhole championship. And yes…there will be a trophy. 🏆 🌽
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— Molly, Carrie, and the Energy Central editorial team
Come See our Presentation. July 14th at 12PM. UDC explores the role that evolving geospatial technology has on enhancing utility workflows with automation and machine learning.
Can ‘rolling power plants’ offer the grid much-needed relief?
Earlier this month, General Motors announced its plans to steer vehicle-to-grid charging into the mainstream. The automaker will incorporate this capability into all new EVs (and some existing ones). Eventually, GM drivers could sell these electrons back to their utilities—but first, the company must wrap up pilot programs to work out the kinks.
GM is now testing this concept with PG&E and DTE, and it’s also in conversations with around 10 utilities, the company told Reuters.
In PG&E territory, there are roughly 900K EVs on the road. This offers a huge opportunity to tap into these “rolling power plants” and turn them into a “new source of revenue and support grid reliability,” Paul Doherty, manager of clean energy and innovation communications at PG&E, told Energy Central.
The utility has big plans: PG&E wants “millions” of EVs participating in both managed charging and vehicle-to-grid export over the next five to ten years, Doherty said. “Our overall goal is to create the most robust vehicle-grid integration portfolio in the world.” But first, the utility aims to coordinate a fleet of 52K grid-balancing GM EVs by 2030.
It isn’t just GM getting in on the V2G action. ChargeScape, a software platform that connects utilities, carmakers, and EV drivers, works with over seven auto companies.
The ratepayer relief angle: Beyond adding much-needed backup capacity, EVs can lower customer bills. That's because they help utilities get more out of existing grid infrastructure (and avoid expensive upgrades), Doherty said. Managed charging can also reduce peak load, further curbing energy costs.
But for these benefits to catch on widely, we have to hook up more EVs to the grid. “You need to reach a certain tipping point to scale,” Elta Koliou, principal of grids and utilities at market intelligence firm Currence, told Energy Central. Despite federal pushback, EVs are projected to make up around 8% of US cars by 2035. And by 2050—when annual US electricity consumption is set to jump by over 55%—they could contribute 65% of new car sales.
The true value of EVs, according to Koliou? Grid synergy: “Being able to marry what the vehicle flexibility can do with other DERs.”
Aging coal and gas plants are threatening the country’s backup power supply.
Mind the gap: Between 2024 and 2025, forced outages reduced coal availability by 39.8 TWh and gas availability by 19.1 TWh, NERC noted in its 2026 State of Reliability report. These shortfalls put a dent in the country’s deployable reserves—a concerning trend as demand only continues to grow.
Clean energy is also hitting a huge speed bump: Renewable developers are racing to kick off construction before the July 4 federal tax credit cutoff. After this deadline, renewable PPA prices could jump by over 40% across the US grid (and more than double in ERCOT).
The best ideas happen off the conference floor. Join utility professionals for food, drinks, and meaningful conversations before Esri kicks off. Request your invitation
Heat pumps could soon beat out AC sales in the US. 🥊
New records: In 2025, sales of heat pumps and conventional air conditioners essentially reached a tie (both hovering around 4M). But that changed in September of last year, when pumps out-sold ACs for the first time—and the gap has continued to narrow. Over the first few months of 2026, heat pump sales increased around 1% (and AC sales fell by almost 8%) compared with the same period last year.
Why the sudden shift? State and local incentives, plus utility rebates, have upped heat pumps’ appeal.
A third advanced reactor could go critical by President Trump’s July 4 deadline.
As the country preps for hot dogs and fireworks, Aalo Atomics is racing to meet the White House’s “aggressive goal,” according to Energy Sec. Chris Wright. Appearing on “Squawk on the Street,” Wright said that Aalo’s reactor is expected to reach criticality in the coming days.
That would check off Trump’s target for “at least three advanced nuclear reactor concepts” in the DOE’s pilot program to reach this milestone by the country’s 250th birthday.
Major power moves are underway in NY and AZ.
In the Empire State, a new 100-mile, $1.5B transmission project is now complete. The new substations and rebuilt lines will broaden the reach of 1 GW of renewable energy. They’ll also offer over $400M in annual ratepayer savings, officials said. It’s part of the biggest investment in NY’s grid in five decades.
Down in AZ, Enlight has raised $2.6B for a 1.2-GW/4-GWh solar and storage project. It’s set to hit the grid beginning in 2027, and Enlight has inked deals with Salt River Project and Arizona Public Service.
Can the grid keep up with rising demand? Register now to explore the role of nuclear energy in the next era of growth.
The battle for grid reliability is moving deep inside the code. Systemic resilience now depends on how aggressively we secure the automated software governing our daily operations.
Thanks for reading. Have a great week!