Energy Secretary Issues Emergency Orders to Deploy Backup Generation in the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas Following Winter Storm Fern

Secretary Wright issues two emergency orders to stabilize the grid in the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas', save lives, and lower costs after Winter Storm Fern

WASHINGTON-The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today issued two emergency orders authorizing the deployment of backup generation resources to mitigate blackouts in the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas following Winter Storm Fern. Issued pursuant to Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, the orders authorize PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM) and Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC and Duke Energy Progress (collectively, Duke Energy), respectively, to deploy backup generation resources at data centers and other major facilities.

Today's action follows a letter Secretary Wright sent Thursday to grid operators asking them to be prepared to use backup generation if needed to mitigate the risk of blackouts from the storm. DOE estimates more than 35 GW of unused backup generation remains available nationwide. The order will help PJM and Duke respond to extreme temperatures and storm damage across the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas and reduce costs for Americans in the days following the storm.

These actions mark the second set of emergency orders issued to PJM and Duke during Winter Storm Fern, following earlier orders to run specified resources located within the PJM and Duke regions, regardless of limits established by environmental permits or state law.

"The Trump administration is committed to unleashing all available power generation needed to keep Americans safe during Winter Storm Fern," said U.S. Energy Secretary Wright. "Unfortunately, the last administration had the nation on track to lose significant amounts of baseload power, but we are doing everything in our power to reverse those reckless decisions. The Trump administration will continue taking action to ensure that the 35 GW of untapped backup generation that exists across the country can be deployed as needed during Winter Storm Fern and in the future."

On day one, President Trump declared a national energy emergency after the Biden administration's energy subtraction agenda left behind a grid increasingly vulnerable to blackouts. According to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), "Winter electricity demand is rising at the fastest rate in recent years," while the premature forced closure of reliable generation such as coal and natural gas plants leaves American families vulnerable to power outages. The NERC 2025 - 2026 Winter Reliability Assessment further warns that areas across the continental United States have an elevated risk of blackouts during extreme weather conditions.

Power outages cost the American people $44 billion per year, according to data from DOE's National Laboratories. These orders will help mitigate power outages in the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas and highlights the commonsense policies of the Trump Administration to ensure Americans have access to affordable, reliable and secure electricity.

The PJM order is in effect from January 26-January 31, 2026.

The Duke order is in effect from January 26-January 30, 2026.

BACKGROUND

In its 2025-2026 Winter Reliability Assessment, NERC forecasts that PJM will have the fourth largest peak demand increase in the nation this winter. According to NERC, above-normal winter peak and outage conditions could result in the need for operating mitigations and Energy Emergency Alerts (EEAs).

Orders such as these are in accordance with President Trump's Executive Order: Declaring a National Energy Emergency and will ensure the availability of generation needed to meet high electricity demand and minimize the risk of blackouts.

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