NWPPA Morning Brief

NWPPA Morning Brief — Friday, May 22, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• FERC Summer Assessment Points to Low Hydro, High Heat, and Wildfire Risk Across the West — https://www.rtoinsider.com/132776-ferc-summer-assessment-expects-high-temps-low-hydropower/
• FERC Releases Large-Load Cost Guidelines Ahead of June Order — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-large-load-interconnection-cost-guidelines/820400/
• FERC's Chang Confirms End-of-June Timeline on Large-Load Order, Distances Commission from PJM Breakup — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-commissioner-chang-is-not-thinking-about-breaking-up-pjm/820807/
• FERC Approves Natural Gas Permitting Reforms to Accelerate Infrastructure Approvals — https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/news/ferc-unleashes-natural-gas-permit-reforms-accelerating-infrastructure-upgrades
• NRC Accepts Cooper Nuclear Station Subsequent License Renewal Application — https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2026/05/21/2026-10151.html
• DOE Issues Presidential Permit for Basin Electric's North Dakota–Canada Transmission Lines — https://www.energy.gov/oe/articles/does-office-electricity-issues-presidential-permit-expand-us-canada-grid-reliability
• House Committee Advances Bill to Streamline Hydropower Permitting on Federal Lands — https://www.eenews.net/articles/committee-oks-bill-to-ease-hydro-permitting/
• FERC May Meeting — Order Topics — https://perkinscoie.com/insights/update/ferc-meeting-agenda-summaries-may-2026

Top Regional / State Developments

• Utah Governor Declares Statewide Drought Emergency After Record-Low Snowpack — https://gephardtdaily.com/local/gov-cox-issues-statewide-drought-emergency-order-following-record-low-snowpack/amp/
• NV Energy Pursues $500 Million Wildfire Self-Insurance Pool Funded by Ratepayers — https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/nevadas-wildfire-season-is-coming-should-nv-energy-customers-help-utility-fund-insurance/

Congressional and Federal Agency Scan

• House Appropriations Approves FY2027 Energy-Water Bill With 8% DOE Cut — https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/doe-funding-would-fall-8-fy-2027-appropriations-bill-approved-house-committee

Advocacy and Legal Signal Scan

• Midwest Utilities Ask FERC to Halt Competitive Transmission Bidding in MISO and SPP — https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/etcc-says-utilities-ask-ferc-to-prohibit-electricity-transmission-competition-to-increase-electricity-prices-and-protect-their-profits-302778065.html
• NRECA Releases Handbook on Communicating Rates and Affordability to Co-op Members — https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/New-Handbook-Guides-Co-ops-on-Member-Communication-Around-Cost-and-Affordability.aspx

AI and Large Load Demand Radar

• FERC's "But For" Cost Test Aims at Data Center Upgrade Cost Recovery — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-large-load-interconnection-cost-guidelines/820400/

Worth Knowing

• NRC Moves to Separate Fusion Regulation From Fission Framework — https://www.axios.com/2026/05/22/fusion-energy-simpler-federal-review

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Thursday, May 21, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• NERC's summer outlook: better resources, harder forecasting — https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/nerc-says-record-resource-additions-strengthen-summer-reliability-outlook
• PJM moves backstop auction to September, pushes states on data center cost rules — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pjm-accelerates-backstop-reliability-auction-amid-uncertainty-over-data-cen/820707/

Top Regional / State Developments

• CAISO board approves $6.7 billion transmission plan supporting 45 GW of new solar — https://www.pv-tech.org/caiso-approves-transmission-plan-enabling-45gw-of-new-solar-pv/
• California's demand-side virtual power plant funding zeroed out for 2027 — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/funding-for-californias-signature-virtual-power-plant-remains-uncertain/820747/
• Denver imposes one-year moratorium on new data center permits — https://www.planetizen.com/news/2026/05/137613-denver-bans-new-data-centers-one-year
• LADWP prices multi-tranche bond sale at 5.00%–5.25% — https://cbonds.com/bonds/2119085/

Congressional and Federal Agency Scan

• House full committee advances FY2027 Energy-Water bill — https://appropriations.house.gov/news/remarks/fleischmann-remarks-fy27-energy-and-water-development-and-related-agencies-bill-full
• House releases FY2027 Interior-Environment bill — https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/committee-releases-fy27-interior-environment-and-related-agencies

AI and Large Load Demand Radar

• Data center forecasting uncertainty flagged by NERC — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/data-center-interconnection-delays-complicate-demand-forecasting-nerc/820695/

Worth Knowing

• LS Power breaks ground on $2 billion Bay Area transmission program — https://www.lspower.com/news/ls-power-grid-california-breaks-ground-on-power-the-bay-projects/

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Wednesday, May 20, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• DOE Orders Data Center Curtailment in PJM During Heat Wave — https://www.eenews.net/articles/doe-allows-pjm-to-curtail-data-center-power-to-prevent-blackouts/
• FERC Refuses to Pause $1.5 Billion in New England Transmission Refunds — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-declines-stay-refunds-new-england-transmission-eversource/820343/
• DOE Awards $94 Million to Eight Companies for Small Modular Reactor Deployment — https://www.ans.org/news/2026-05-15/article-8035/doe-selects-companies-for-94m-in-light-water-smr-deployment-awards/
• CISA Tells Critical Infrastructure to Plan for Operating in Isolation During Cyber Attacks — https://techinformed.com/cisa-tells-critical-infrastructure-operators-to-plan-for-isolation/
• FERC May 21 Open Meeting Agenda Items — https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/summary-ferc-meeting-agenda-may-2026

Top Regional / State Developments

• OPALCO Wins Permit for 1.6-MW Community Solar Expansion on Decatur Island — https://www.islandssounder.com/2026/05/20/opalco-receives-conditional-use-permit-for-the-decatur-island-solar-expansion-project/
• Clean Power Alliance Opens 2026 Procurement for Renewables, Storage, and Reliability — https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/19/3297770/0/en/clean-power-alliance-launches-its-2026-clean-energy-and-reliability-request-for-offers.html
• PJM Activates Demand Response in Early-Season Heat Event — https://www.roi-nj.com/2026/05/19/industry/energy-utilities/pjm-issues-update-on-hot-weather-operations-as-n-j-temps-soar/

Congressional and Federal Agency Scan

• House Appropriations Markup Today on Energy-Water Bill — https://legis1.com/news/congressional-spending-power-committee-defends
• House Interior-Environment FY2027 Bill Unveiled This Week — https://www.eenews.net/articles/house-to-unveil-interior-environment-spending-bill/
• Democratic Lawmakers Form Utility Affordability Caucus — https://www.eenews.net/articles/the-next-big-oil-democrats-set-their-sights-on-utilities/

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Tuesday, May 19, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• Appeals court hears arguments on DOE's authority to keep coal plants running — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-coal-fired-emergency-campbell-lawsuit/820459/
• FERC accepts updated cost assignments for 358 PJM reliability projects — https://environmentenergyleader.com/stories/ferc-approves-pjm-transmission-cost-updates-for-2026-rtep,126524
• EPA proposes to partially roll back PFAS drinking water standards — https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5883481-forever-chemicals-pfas-epa/
• Senate confirms LaCerte to second FERC term — https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/news/ferc-commissioner-david-lacerte-confirmed-second-term

Top Regional / State Developments

• Oregon finalizes data center cost-allocation rules; PGE must implement by June 10 — https://theonlinecitizen.com/2026/05/19/oregon-orders-data-centres-to-cover-their-own-electricity-grid-expansion-costs
• PNGC Power launches plans for 600-MW gas plant to meet Northwest load growth — https://www.electric.coop/pngc-power-plans-state-of-the-art-natural-gas-plant-to-meet-growing-demand
• Imperial Irrigation District proposes large load tariff; 30-day public comment open — https://beyondbordersnews.com/iid-announces-public-review-and-comment-period-on-proposed-large-load-tariff-to-protect-ratepayers-and-grid-reliability/
• First California PSPS of 2026 affects 4,700 customers across 15 counties — https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article315797129.html
• Zanskar signs 20-year, 100-MW geothermal PPA with NV Energy — https://globalrenewablenews.com/article/energy/category/geothermal/85/1201300/zanskar-inks-100-mw-power-purchase-agreement-to-provide-carbon-free-firm-power-to-nv-energy.html

Congressional and Federal Agency Scan

• Senate Energy-Water Appropriations subcommittee hearing noticed for May 20 — https://waterways.org/nwc-news-alert-may-15-2026-fy2027-appropriations-moving-latest-on-wrda-and-more/

Advocacy and Legal Signal Scan

• Pennsylvania PUC releases first-of-its-kind model large load tariff framework — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pennsylvania-releases-first-of-its-kind-large-load-model-tariff/820456/

AI and Large Load Demand Radar

• PowerSecure to deliver battery storage and solar for Wyoming cooperative PRECorp — https://globalrenewablenews.com/article/energy/category/solar/142/1195907/powersecure-to-deliver-advanced-energy-storage-and-solar-for-precorp-strengthening-rural-grid-resiliency.html

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

Feel free to reach out if you have comments or concerns.

NWPPA Morning Brief — Monday, May 18, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• NextEra–Dominion Merger Announced; Federal and State Approval Process Begins — https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nextera-energy-and-dominion-energy-to-combine-creating-the-worlds-largest-regulated-electric-utility-business-and-north-americas-premier-energy-infrastructure-platform-benefiting-customers-302774600.html
• NRC Commissioners Defend $892.3M FY2027 Budget Before House — https://www.ans.org/news/2026-04-23/article-7973/nrc-commissioners-testify-before-us-house-subcommittee/
• DOJ Weighs Intervention in xAI Memphis Gas Turbine Lawsuit — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/doj-naacp-xai-data-center-gas-turbines-memphis/820010/

Congressional and Federal Agency Scan

• CRS Analysis Quantifies House FY2027 Energy-Water Bill — https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R48944.html

Advocacy and Legal Signal Scan

• Virginia Enacts Data Center Cost-Assignment Law and Dominion Line-Burial Authority — https://virginiamercury.com/2026/05/18/virginia-governor-signs-dominion-backed-bills-all-eyes-on-regulators-now/

AI and Large Load Demand Radar

• Federal Enforcement Posture on Data Center Generation Takes Shape — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/doj-naacp-xai-data-center-gas-turbines-memphis/820010/

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Friday, May 15, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• House Energy and Water FY2027 Bill Released, Subcommittee Markup Today — https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/committee-releases-fy27-energy-and-water-development-and-related-agencies
• FERC May Open Meeting Sunshine Notice Issued — https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/news/sunshine-notice-may-2026-commission-meeting
• Eversource Hit with FERC Complaint Over $385M Transmission Project Classification — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/eversource-new-hampshire-transmission-ferc-complaint-iso-ne/820215/
• Federal Efficiency Programs Being Dismantled as Demand Surges — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/policy-makers-energy-efficiency-energy-star/819228/
• Clean Energy Manufacturing Lost 5,900 Net Jobs in Q1 — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/q1-2026-clean-energy-manufacturing-jobs-environmental-defense-fund-report/820263/

Top Regional / State Developments

• Rocky Mountain Power Seeks 8.8% Wyoming Rate Increase — https://wyofile.com/another-electric-rate-hike-in-wyoming-rocky-mountain-power-asks-for-71m-increase/
• PacifiCorp Files Oregon Tariff to Shift Large-Load Costs to Data Centers — https://ktvz.com/news/top-stories/2026/05/11/pacificorp-proposal-aims-to-shield-central-oregon-customers-from-large-energy-user-costs/
• Cheyenne Council Moves Toward Data Center Moratorium — https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/wyoming-economy/2026-05-14/cheyenne-city-council-to-consider-a-pause-on-new-data-centers
• CPUC to Vote June 11 on Final Community Solar Rules — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/cpuc-final-decision-community-solar-program/820234/
• Imperial Irrigation District to Join Both WEIM and EDAM — https://www.caiso.com/about/news/news-releases/imperial-irrigation-district-board-approves-joining-iso-operated-electricity-markets

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

Feel free to reach out if you have comments or concerns.

NWPPA Morning Brief — Thursday, May 14, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• FERC June Decision Looms on Federal Oversight of Large-Load Interconnections — https://www.enr.com/articles/62997-ferc-weighs-federal-oversight-of-ai-data-center-grid-connections
• FERC Sets July 23 Technical Conference on PJM Governance — https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/ferc-hold-technical-conference-july-discuss-pjm-interconnections-governance-and-stakeholder-process
• FERC Decision on Crane Nuclear Restart Interconnection Expected June or July — https://www.ans.org/news/2026-05-13/article-8026/ferc-decision-on-crane-restart-coming-in-june-or-july-constellation-execs-say/
• House Energy Subcommittee Holds Transmission Hearing; Chair Defends State Siting — https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/chairman-latta-delivers-opening-statement-at-subcommittee-on-energy-hearing-on-electricity-transmission-for-reliable-and-affordable-power

Top Regional / State Developments

• Pennsylvania Utility Signs Data Center Cost-Recovery Agreements; PUC Finalizes Statewide Guidance — https://whyy.org/articles/peco-data-centers-agreement/
• NRECA Releases Distribution Automation Implementation Guidance — https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/New-NRECA-Report-Offers-Co-ops-Guidance-on-Distribution-Automation-Strategies.aspx
• EIA Forecasts Texas Solar to Outproduce Coal for First Time in 2026 — https://www.eenews.net/articles/solar-to-produce-more-power-than-coal-in-texas-eia-says/

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

Feel free to reach out if you have comments or concerns.

NWPPA Morning Brief — Wednesday, May 13, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• FERC Chair questions whether PJM is structurally too large to manage AI load growth — https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/ai-boom-shows-top-us-grid-too-big-to-function-regulator-says
• FERC signals June action on interconnection and large-load connections — https://broadbandbreakfast.com/ferc-targets-data-center-interconnection-delays/
• DOE pursues state partnerships on spent nuclear fuel storage and recycling — https://www.utilitydive.com/

Top Regional / State Developments

• Basin Electric breaks ground on 1,490-MW Bison gas plant in North Dakota — https://www.basinelectric.com/news-center/news-releases/Basin-Electric-breaks-ground-on-historic-generation-facility.html
• Flathead Electric Cooperative secures 130 MW from northern Idaho gas plant — https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2026/may/13/co-op-plugs-in-to-new-gas-facility/
• Montana PSC opens four-day NorthWestern–Black Hills merger hearing — https://dailymontanan.com/2026/05/12/northwestern-black-hills-merger-hearing/
• Colorado data center bills both die in committee — https://www.kiowacountypress.net/content/both-colorado-data-center-bills-rejected-final-days-2026-legislative-session
• LADWP resumes Pacific Palisades billing after January fires — https://palisadesnews.com/ladwp-resumes-billing-in-palisades-offers-relief-measures/

Congressional and Federal Agency Scan

• House Energy and Commerce Chair Guthrie pushes back on federal transmission siting — https://www.eenews.net/articles/guthrie-warns-against-giving-feds-more-power-over-grid/

Advocacy and Legal Signal Scan

• California wildfire liability framework draws broad opposition at Capitol hearings — https://consumerwatchdog.org/energy/wildfire-survivors-consumer-groups-insurers-public-entities-oppose-limits-on-survivors-rights-at-hearings-in-ca-capitol-on-cea-sb-254-report/
• California Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety issues Horizon West Transmission WMP performance report — https://energysafety.ca.gov/news/2026/04/20/energy-safety-issues-annual-performance-report-on-horizon-west-transmissions-2024-wildfire-mitigation-plan/

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

Feel free to reach out if you have comments or concerns.

NWPPA Morning Brief — Tuesday, May 12, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• FERC Partly Accepts NV Energy's Order 2023 Interconnection Compliance Filing — https://www.rtoinsider.com/131973-nv-energy-mixed-ruling-order-2023-tariff-revisions/
• Maryland Consumer Advocate Files FERC Complaint Over $1.6 Billion in Data Center Transmission Costs — https://news.fundsforngos.org/2026/05/11/maryland-files-ferc-complaint-over-1-6b-data-center-power-bill/
• PNNL Launches AI-Based Grid Defense Program — https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/52231-pnnl-launches-ai-grid-defense-initiative-to-counter-cyber-threats/

Top Regional / State Developments

• Portland General Electric Discloses Proposed Washington Utility Acquisition — https://www.tradingview.com/news/tradingview%3Ab7dd934324412%3A0-portland-general-electric-unveils-investor-presentation-outlining-wa-utility-acquisition-3-33-3-53-2026-eps-guidance/
• Black Hills Energy Files First Wyoming Base Rate Increase in Over a Decade — https://newslj.com/rate-hike-proposed-black-hills-energy-seeks-1st-base-rate-increase-decade
• Idaho Snowpack Has Largely Melted Out Below the Highest Elevations — https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/idaho/news/nrcs-idaho-releases-may-2026-water-supply-outlook-report

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

Feel free to reach out if you have comments or concerns.

NWPPA Morning Brief — Monday, May 11, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• DOE Budget Testimony Centers on Baseload and Nuclear — https://www.ans.org/news/article-7968/doe-secretary-testifies-on-fy-2027-budget/
• Pentagon Review Backlog Stalls 250+ Wind Projects — https://apnews.com/article/07ab0166646db80ee97861ef6f164480
• NRC Approves Diablo Canyon 20-Year License Renewal — https://www.ans.org/news/2026-04-03/article-7906/nrc-approves-diablo-canyon-license-renewal-extension/
• Solar Installations Fell 14% After Subsidy Phase-Out — https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5776709-solar-installations-decline-us-trump-administration/
• FH Capital to Take Majority Stake in JinkoSolar U.S. Manufacturing — https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/05/11/fh-capital-to-acquire-majority-stake-in-jinkosolar-u-s-manufacturing/

Top Regional / State Developments

• EWEB Selects John Hairston as Next General Manager — https://www.eweb.org/
• EWEB Completes McKenzie Valley Customer Transfer to Lane Electric — https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/eweb-finalizes-transfer-mckenzie-valley-electric-customers-lane-electric
• Oklahoma Commission Decision Expected on $1.2B PSO Generation Request — https://www.okenergytoday.com/2026/05/decision-time-on-pso-request/
• Idaho Power Files Two Annual Cost Adjustments at Idaho PUC — https://www.kmvt.com/2026/05/05/idaho-power-seeks-rate-increases-annual-cost-adjustment-filings/

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

Feel free to reach out if you have comments or concerns.