Big names: Nearly 200 orgs have signed the non-binding pledge to prevent ratepayers from covering data center grid expenses. These include companies representing roughly 80% of the power delivered to US homes and businesses, the Wall Street Journal reported. Trump is likely to unveil the full list today.

More context: These utilities add to the collection of governors, lawmakers, and data center developers who have already signed. Now, it’s unclear whether President Trump’s pledge—and the associated legislation—can actually address ratepayers’ cost concerns as data centers expand. 👀 

Speaking of expansion: US data center power capacity could hit 194 GW by 2035, BloombergNEF predicts. That’s 83% higher than their estimate published in December. If this pans out, data centers would contribute 20% of US electricity consumption (compared with 5.9% today).

Ready, set: The grid operator aims to curb wait time by studying load and associated generation “in parallel rather than consecutively,” a MISO representative told Energy Central over email. This would “accelerate approval and optimize network upgrades while maintaining reliability,” the organization said.

The benefits package: The new process could offer these customers 1) speed-to-power 2) “optimized transmission solutions” and 3) more certainty to support siting, financing, and state coordination, MISO told us.  

What’s next: The org is “currently engaging with stakeholders”…and will reveal more info in upcoming Large Load Working Group meetings.

The latest: The House has advanced bills that would 1) promote advanced transmission tech 2) direct FERC to improve load forecasting and 3) order the Energy Sec. to explore how AI can “enhance the bulk-power system.”

While we’re here: The House also passed legislation that would fast-track geothermal research and commercialization. 

In the first half of 2026, energy companies raised nearly $13B in IPOs—that’s the industry’s highest H1 total ever recorded, nearly tripling 2025’s total sum.

The takeaway: It’s now clear that the data center buildout is going to take a lot of gigawatts—and investors are willing to bet on all possible power sources...and even some unproven ones, like fusion.

The context: Japan’s biggest power generator (JERA) wants to form a utility for the island of Oʻahu, where customers have some of the country’s highest energy bills. Longtime incumbent HECO has questioned whether two electric utilities could even serve the same island.

Power struggle: JERA claims it’s not trying to replace HECO. Instead, it would sell the incumbent power from its proposed 500-MW LNG plant. HECO’s response? It’s trying to block JERA from building that plant.

What’s next: Now, the ball is in the Hawaiʻi PUC’s court. Gov. Josh Green supports JERA’s proposed LNG plant (which he says would prove cheaper than the oil HECO imports to run its Oʻahu plants).