Strengthening The Reliability And Security

Rising demand from artificial intelligence data centers and domestic manufacturing is straining the electric grid. The order aims to reduce blackout risks by identifying power shortages and retaining generation resources in at-risk regions.

What the order does ​

• Expedites Department of Energy orders allowing power generators to operate at maximum capacity when needed to prevent grid failure.
• Requires a uniform regional reserve-margin methodology within 30 days and publication of the methodology and resulting analysis within 90 days.
• Requires regular reassessments and a protocol for identifying power plants critical to grid reliability.
• Uses available legal authorities to retain critical generators in regions with inadequate reserves.
• Allows the Energy Secretary to prevent critical generators larger than 50 megawatts from retiring or changing fuels when doing so would reduce accredited generating capacity.

Who it affects ​

• Power generators connected to the federally regulated bulk-power system.
• Grid operators and regions with current or anticipated shortages in reserve capacity.
• Artificial intelligence data centers, manufacturers, and other large electricity users.

Context ​

The order implements the administration’s national energy emergency policy by prioritizing reliable generation from all available sources.