Electricity infrastructure investment is a foundational need for the US to maintain leadership in AI and modern manufacturing, write NEMA President and CEO Debra Phillips and Data Center Coalition President Josh Levi. Escalating power capacity shortages now threaten to slow data center construction and AI progress, and the authors argue that significant investment in grid capacity is urgently needed to support the rising demand from consumers and businesses, and to enable the deployment of next-generation technologies. Phillips and Levi advocate for policy incentives that specifically reward investments in US power infrastructure and manufacturing capacity to accelerate this momentum.

The US and UK are set to sign a nuclear power collaboration deal during President Donald Trump's visit to Britain this week. The pact will streamline regulatory approvals, allowing each country to recognize the other's reactor safety checks and reducing licensing times. Meanwhile, several major commercial nuclear deals have been announced between US and UK companies.

The Department of Energy announced $134 million in funding for fusion energy initiatives, including $128 million for the Fusion Innovative Research Engine collaboratives and $6.1 million for the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy. The FIRE collaboratives aim to create a fusion energy innovation ecosystem, while INFUSE focuses on accelerating private-sector fusion development by fostering collaboration between businesses, national labs and universities.

Low-emission hydrogen production is expected to increase significantly by 2030 amid falling costs, despite delays and cancellations, reports the International Energy Agency. Global hydrogen demand hit nearly 100 million metric tons in 2024, primarily met by fossil fuel-based hydrogen. China leads in electrolyzer deployment, and Southeast Asia is emerging as a hydrogen market.

Honeywell has introduced the Ionic Modular All-in-One battery storage system, which uses lithium-ion technology to enhance energy efficiency in manufacturing. The system, scalable from 250 kWh to 5 MWh, optimizes energy costs, provides backup power and integrates advanced control software for cybersecurity.

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced plans to end the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, which tracks emissions from more than 8,000 industrial facilities. Some fossil fuel facilities will still be required to report emissions under the Inflation Reduction Act, although the EPA is moving to delay those requirements for nearly a decade. The initiative will eliminate necessary red tape, save American businesses up to $2.4 billion in regulatory costs and support the EPA's mission to protect human health, said Administrator Lee Zeldin.

California lawmakers have reached an agreement to expand the Wildfire Fund by $18 billion to address increasing wildfire liabilities. The expansion creates a Continuation Account funded by ratepayers and utilities, with utilities contributing $3.9 billion upfront. Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Pacific Gas & Electric support the bill, which is expected to pass before the legislative session ends.

Fusion energy could become a viable source of electricity within eight years, said Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Innovation has accelerated significantly since a Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory breakthrough in 2022, and the space has caught the eye of investors such as Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. "I believe we will know the commercial pathway to fusion during the Trump administration," said Wright.

Developers are evaluating the feasibility of ultra-long electricity cables, such as a 4,000-kilometer cable between North America and Europe, and a 4,300-kilometer cable between Australia and Singapore. The projects aim to capitalize on renewable energy growth, but face significant challenges, including high costs, supply chain issues and political hurdles. The Viking interconnector between the UK and Denmark is a milestone in such endeavors.

ExxonMobil says it's developed a form of graphite that can extend the life of electric vehicle batteries by up to 30%, CEO Darren Woods says. The synthetic graphite, which is being tested by automakers, allows faster charging and a longer range, Woods says. Exxon plans commercial production by 2029 after acquiring production assets from Superior Graphite.