Entries by Kenneth W. Irvin

Interconnection Reform Critical to the Efficiency of Energy Markets

The U.S. power grid is undergoing a period of rapid change, with federal agencies such as the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) initiating programs and regulatory actions to address the integration of new generation and transmission resources. According to a recent DOE report, the U.S. grid is facing the retirement of 104 GW of firm capacity (generation that can operate continuously) by 2030, and the planned addition of 209 GW of new generation in the same period. The White House is concerned that the retirement of “baseload” power plants will impede President Trump’s economic goals; as such, press reports say that the administration is expected to issue new emergency orders preventing fossil fuel plants from retiring.

H.R.1: What You Should Know About the Environmental and Energy Provisions in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act

On July 4, President Trump signed H.R.1—the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” referred to as the OBBB—into law. This sweeping tax and policy law, enacted through the process of budget reconciliation […]

Three Takeaways from the Trump Administration’s Latest Push for Shifts in Domestic Energy Production

On April 8, 2025, President Trump issued three executive orders reflecting the Administration’s push for increased domestic coal production. The orders point to the surge in electricity demand from data centers and other infrastructure required to support Trump Administration goals, including becoming a leader in artificial intelligence (AI), as a key rationale. Here are three takeaways from these orders.