Federal energy dollars flow

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Southeast Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each Wednesday morning.

Grid relief: The Trump administration last week released $1.9 billion in grants for transmission capacity upgrades around the country; recipients include Alabama Power, Duke Energy, and Entergy Mississippi. (Canary Media)

Return to RGGI: In its first carbon allowance auction since returning to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Virginia pulled in $259 million as prices have risen significantly since the state last participated in 2023. (Center Square)

Data center siting: After releasing a package of legislative proposals designed to increase oversight and transparency of the data center industry, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) calls for a study to encourage siting the projects on existing brownfield sites. (Virginia Mercury, Cardinal News)

Not so fast: Duke Energy got a rare rebuke earlier this month from North Carolina regulators, who said the utility failed to show that a planned 255-MW gas plant was the most cost-effective way to meet rising data center demand. (Canary Media)

Picking winners: A panel of judges found an El Paso utility failed to consider alternatives to natural gas to power a proposed data center, ruling the project can only proceed if costs are not passed on to ratepayers. (Inside Climate News)

Pumping the brakes: Amid growing public discontent, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last week ordered regulators to stop issuing permits for new data center projects, the latest in a series of restrictions on development. The Republican governor, up for reelection in November, has previously called for the state to become the ​“epicenter of AI development.” (Texas Tribune)

X-factor: While nuclear startup X-energy has received more than $2 billion in funding commitments from the Department of Energy to build four advanced nuclear reactors at a Texas chemical plant, it remains unclear how much the project will actually cost. (Canary Media)

Searching for more power: Google has offered an undisclosed amount of money to Georgia Power to help pay for upgrades to four reactors at Plant Vogtle. (WABE)

A win for solar: A court ordered the U.S. EPA to release $7 billion in Solar for All funds, which had been earmarked to help low-income households install solar panels to help offset their utility bills, providing particular benefit to residents in the Southeast. (Canary Media, Canary Media)

Manufacturing slowdown: A new report finds Appalachian states have lost 300,000 clean energy manufacturing jobs since 2024, with more job losses at risk amid federal policy changes. (WUKY)