The Veterans Energy Transition Act aims to assist veterans in transitioning into the civilian workforce, particularly in the energy and manufacturing sectors. Supported by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the VET Act would expand partnerships between the Department of Defense and employers, and create grants for training and certification. "The legislation connects two national priorities that unite us all: helping veterans and military families successfully move into civilian life, and strengthening the skilled workforce needed to build America's next generation of energy and manufacturing," write NEMA President and CEO Debra Phillips and Leviton Manufacturing CEO Daryoush Larizadeh.

The International Energy Agency's latest annual World Energy Outlook features a Current Policies Scenario for the first time since 2019, marking a reversal in the agency's recent downbeat view on fossil fuels. The CPS predicts oil consumption will climb by 13% to 113 million barrels per day in 2050, contrasting with the IEA's Stated Policies Scenario, which sees oil demand peaking around 2030 and averaging 96.9 million bpd in 2050. The agency also lifted its long-term natural gas demand outlook and forecast a 50% increase in global LNG export capacity by 2030, but warned about oversupply risks.

Rising electricity prices are becoming a political football as backlash against data centers that support AI growth. Household electricity prices have soared across the US, with much of the cost increases attributed to the rapid development of AI data centers, especially in regions like the PJM Interconnection grid, which serves 65 million people. Higher costs are being passed on to consumers, fueling widespread voter frustration that could lead to action as Democrats and Republicans feel pressure. 

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners' Gas-Electric Alignment for Reliability task force issued a report highlighting the urgent need for expanded natural gas pipeline infrastructure and increased storage capacity in the US. With electricity demand growing and extreme weather events becoming more frequent, reliable access to natural gas is considered crucial for supporting power generation and maintaining grid stability. The report recommends strategic investment in new infrastructure and storage solutions to address supply chain shortfalls.

Solar projects representing approximately 20% of planned capacity reported delays in Q3, down from 25% a year earlier, according to the Energy Information Administration. Delays are becoming less frequent and generally short-lived. The US added a record 31 gigawatts of utility-scale solar photovoltaic generating capacity in 2024.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission must act fast to align with Energy Secretary Chris Wright's directive to standardize interconnections for large loads such as data centers. However, critics aren't sure the proposed rulemaking's technical requirements for flexibility and a six-month timeline are feasible. "It's not realistic," former FERC Commissioner Allison Clements says. "And Wright's authority to require that six-month speed rulemaking, is simply the bully pulpit, political pressure."

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dismissed a complaint from Kentucky state officials alleging that Kentucky Power ratepayers were unfairly charged for transmission projects planned by other American Electric Power utilities. FERC determined that the evidence provided did not demonstrate that the cost allocation was unjust or discriminatory and emphasized that the overall framework aligns costs with network-wide benefits, supporting the dismissal.

Anaphite's dry coating technology for battery electrodes can reduce carbon emissions by 3.57 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour of cell capacity, according to an assessment by Minviro. The technology, which eliminates the need for energy-intensive drying ovens, could save 7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide if widely adopted, according to Minviro.