Secretary Wright’s Latest Move Aims to Avert Blackouts and Stabilize Energy Supply in Crucial Region
In a move to avert potential power outages across the Mid-Atlantic region, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright today issued an emergency order, the fifth of its kind under his tenure, to bolster the nation’s grid reliability.
The order grants PJM Interconnection (PJM) and Talen Energy Corporation the flexibility to operate Unit 4 of the Maryland-based Wagner Generating Station beyond its typical operating limits.
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The emergency measure, effective from July 28 to October 26, 2025, is at the request of PJM, the regional transmission organization overseeing a vast power grid that serves 13 states and the District of Columbia. PJM has cited “growing resource adequacy concerns” due to increasing load growth, the retirement of dispatchable resources, and a potential mismatch between generation retirements and new capacity additions.
“This order reduces the threat of power outages during peak demand conditions for millions of Americans,” stated Secretary Wright. He emphasized the Trump Administration’s commitment to utilizing all available tools to ensure the reliability, affordability, and security of the nation’s energy system.
The Department of Energy’s action aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order 14156, issued on January 20, 2025, which declared a national energy emergency. This executive order underscored the threats posed by inadequate energy supply and infrastructure to U.S. energy security and the economy. A subsequent DOE “Resource Adequacy Report” further highlighted that without intervention, most U.S. regions face “unacceptable reliability risks” within five years, with the grid potentially unable to meet expected demand.
Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act empowers the DOE to temporarily supersede normal regulatory requirements, allowing electricity companies to maintain reliable power during emergencies. This authority is crucial in situations where a sudden increase in demand, a shortage of energy resources, or other factors threaten the grid’s stability.
PJM has consistently voiced concerns about the tightening resource adequacy, noting that its operations in 2025 have already necessitated reliance on Wagner Unit 4 at a higher rate than in 2024, including during a new all-time PJM winter peak in January and a five-day extreme heat event in late June. The inability to operate Wagner Unit 4 beyond its typical environmental run-hour limitations, which for Unit 4 is typically capped at 438 hours per calendar year, could lead to significant reliability impacts, particularly in the Baltimore Gas and Electric territory.
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