Federal policies have helped lead to a surge in US electric vehicle manufacturing, with $197.6 billion invested in the last decade, roughly two-thirds of which came after the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The Environmental Defense Fund and WSP USA report highlights that these investments have resulted in 57 operational facilities and over 50,000 jobs, with another 100 projects under construction.

PJM Interconnection's proposal for a fast-track interconnection review for shovel-ready projects has received mixed reactions at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Supporters, including state utility regulators and electric utilities, back the plan to address grid reliability issues. However, renewable energy developers and advocacy groups oppose it, citing potential delays in pending reviews and favoritism toward thermal generation.

The Treasury Department is racing to finalize guidance for clean energy tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Experts warn that the new administration could delay or overturn late-issued guidelines, such as those for tech-neutral production and hydrogen tax credits. The Congressional Review Act may also be used to repeal recent policies, adding uncertainty for developers seeking to finance new projects.

Constellation plans to acquire Calpine in a $26.6 billion deal that will merge two major power companies to create a leading US electric supplier. The acquisition will expand Constellation's geographic footprint and energy capacity, emphasizing zero- and low-emission sources. The transaction awaits regulatory clearance and is projected to close within a year.

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation released a report addressing the challenges posed by integrating voltage-sensitive large loads, such as data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities, into the Bulk Electric System. The report highlights the risk of significant load loss during voltage disturbances and emphasizes the need for enhanced awareness and proactive measures to mitigate these reliability risks. NERC recommends collaboration among transmission owners, operators, planners and large-load owners to ensure stability and reliability as these loads grow.

California Resources Corporation and Carbon TerraVault have approved the state's first carbon capture and storage project at the Elk Hills cryogenic gas plant in Kern County. The project aims to capture and store up to 100,000 metric tons of CO2 annually, with operations expected to start in late 2025.

Researchers have completed a two-year outdoor test of perovskite solar mini-modules, revealing a performance loss of 7% to 8% per month during the initial burn-in period. One module retained 78% of its initial efficiency after 12 months. The study took place in Cyprus and future trials are planned in Brussels, Madrid, Spain, Freiburg, Germany and the US.

The US economy added 256,000 jobs in December, significantly exceeding the forecast of 155,000. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate decreased to 4.1% from 4.2%, indicating a strengthening labor market.

American consumers expect inflation to rise significantly over the next year and beyond, with the University of Michigan’s survey showing one-year inflation expectations jumping to 3.3% in January. Concerns over potential tariffs and Trump-era economic policies, coupled with a strong labor market, are driving inflation fears and dampening consumer sentiment while expectations of further Federal Reserve rate cuts dim.