Grid edge

Virtual power plants

Federal ruling hands virtual power plants a win in PJM

Firms that enlist homes to reduce energy demand — and costs — have long complained that utility data rules prevent them from helping in PJM. FERC agrees.

By Jeff St. John . 13 August 2026

Electrical wires are seen going from a pole to people's homes, shot from below, with a blue sky — A ruling from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will make it easier for households in 13 states to tap into demand-response and virtual-power-plant programs to lower their energy costs while providing grid relief. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Data centers

PJM’s old way of getting power built isn’t working. Has it found a fix?

Getting data centers to pay for new generation and batteries could be the best hope for the nation’s biggest power market to finally get a handle on costs.

By Jeff St. John . 17 July 2026
Grid edge

Clean energy helped the grid avoid heat-wave catastrophe

Last week's high temperatures pushed the U.S. grid to its limits, and showcased how new wind and solar additions are essential to keeping the lights on.

By Kathryn Krawczyk . 10 July 2026
Batteries

Base Power brings cheap batteries to residents in power-starved PJM

The unicorn startup launched its first move outside its home state of Texas, pitching low-cost energy and backup power in northern Illinois.

By Julian Spector . 24 June 2026
Virtual power plants

Tesla, Sunrun, Renew Home team up on massive 16GW virtual power plant

The clean energy giants are uniting their home batteries and smart thermostats to help tech giants power booming, AI-driven data centers without crushing the grid.

By Jeff St. John . 24 June 2026
Solar

Community solar needs space to grow. Warehouse rooftops have lots of it.

Industrial buildings could host gigawatts of shared solar to deliver low-cost power to underserved urban communities — if states and utilities allow it to scale up.

By Jeff St. John . 22 June 2026
Batteries

Tesla offers discounted home batteries in New England VPP push

Households in Massachusetts and Connecticut can get cheap Powerwall leases — so long as they let Tesla monetize the batteries in virtual power plant programs.

By Jeff St. John . 18 June 2026
Transmission

This software firm has a plan to take grid-enhancing tech nationwide

Most U.S. grid operators already use OATI’s software. Now the firm wants to tap AI and data to boost transmission capacity — and it’s asking the DOE for funding.

By Jeff St. John . 10 June 2026
EV charging

In this house, an EV helps power appliances — and the grid

Can electric vehicles finally start working as backup batteries for homes and the grid? This 120-home pilot project in California is working out the kinks.

By Jeff St. John . 9 June 2026
Utilities

Utilities aren’t sharing smart meter data in PJM. That’s a problem.

Demand-response companies say utilities in the biggest U.S. energy market are blocking gigawatts of grid relief by withholding data meant to help customers save money.

By Jeff St. John . 4 June 2026
EV charging

In Massachusetts, parked EVs will start feeding the grid this summer

Three electric school buses will kick-start the state’s groundbreaking vehicle-to-grid pilot program once school's out, with more EVs to be added in the coming months.

By Sarah Shemkus . 3 June 2026