A looming reliability risk, Vineyard Wind’s final push, and more headlines

This roundup of U.S. energy news headlines is part of our Canary Media Daily newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each morning.

GRID

• The North American Electric Reliability Corporation warns that electric grids across the U.S. could face higher blackout risk due to sky-high power demand from data centers and other large customers over the next decade. (The Hill)

FEDERAL ACTION

• The DOE cancels a $1.8 billion loan commitment meant to help Arizona Public Service, the state’s largest utility, build clean energy and transmission. (Utility Dive)

• The National Fish and Wildlife Service expedites permitting for a controversial transmission line for coal-fired power in Nebraska, citing the Trump administration’s ​“energy emergency.” (E&E News)

WIND

• Vineyard Wind’s 62nd and final turbine tower sails out of the Port of New Bedford in Massachusetts, less than 24 hours after a federal judge allows work on the development to resume. (New Bedford Light)

FOSSIL FUELS

• Plans to build new gas-fired power plants nearly tripled to 252 GW in the U.S. last year, with projects meant to directly power data centers accounting for more than one-third of the gas capacity under development. (Global Energy Monitor)

• New York’s environmental regulator files its opposition to developer Williams Cos.’ request to revive federal permits for a previously canceled natural gas pipeline from Pennsylvania into New York. (Reuters)

CLIMATE

• Maine lawmakers advance a ​“climate superfund” bill that would require fossil fuel companies to pay for damages caused by climate change and for resiliency measures to protect residents from flooding. (Maine Morning Star)

• Efforts to pass ​“climate superfund” bills are also underway in Connecticut and Illinois, despite the Trump administration’s fierce opposition to similar, existing laws in New York and Vermont. (Hartford Courant, Inside Climate News)

NUCLEAR

• EnergySolutions, the owner of the decommissioned Kewaunee nuclear plant in Wisconsin, submits a federal notice of intent to restart the facility. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

FINANCING

• Global investment in the energy transition climbed to a new record of $2.3 trillion last year, but experts say faster growth is needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. (Inside Climate News)