Alltricity Network eNews

Industry Information

Three U.S. States in Line for Deep Fission's Underground SMRs

Deep Fission, which aims to place small modular reactors in boreholes a mile underground, says it has identified three initial potential project sites. The company says that Letters of Intent have now been signed in each of the three states to pursue joint development projects, with Deep Fission CEO Elizabeth Muller saying, “We’re proud to collaborate with our partners in Texas, Utah, and Kansas.”

Visit https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/deep-fission-identifies-three-sites-identified-for-underground-smrs to view the full article online.

Which States are Getting Hit Hardest by Electricity Price Increases?

Rising electricity rates are hitting consumers just about everywhere as utilities struggle to build enough power plants to meet rising demand from data centers. But the effects on prices vary a lot by state. Federal electricity data released helps to identify where the increases in bills have been the most drastic.

Visit https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/energy-business/policy-and-regulation/which-states-are-getting-hit-hardest-by-electricity-price-increases/ to view the full article online.

Utility-Scale Batteries are More Commonly Used for Price Arbitrage

Beginning with the 2023 survey, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (IEA) asked operators to identify the primary use case for their battery system. Last year, operators responded that 66% of all utility-scale battery capacity had arbitrage among its uses and that 41% of the total capacity was primarily used for arbitrage.

Visit https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=66164 to view the full article online.

North American Energy Professionals Report Slower Hiring: AEE Survey

Hiring in the North American energy sector could be slowing, according to a survey by the Association of Energy Engineers. The number of respondents who said their company plans to hire energy professionals in the next 12 months dropped from 45.9% in 2024 to 42.6% in 2025, AEE found in its annual Jobs and Market Trends report.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/energy-sector-hiring-interest-shrank-jobs-workforce-aee-survey/761480/ to view the full article online.

Energy Department Announces $625 Million Investment to Reinvigorate and Expand America’s Coal Industry

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $625 million investment to expand and reinvigorate America’s coal industry, aiming to boost energy production and support coal communities nationwide. The funding announcements are issued in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Orders, “Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry” and “Strengthening the Reliability and Security of the United States Electric Grid.”

Visit https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-department-announces-625-million-investment-reinvigorate-and-expand-americas-coal to view the full article online.

Many Believe the AI Bubble Will Burst, Effecting Electric Utilities

The data center-utility romance may be in for a period of adjustment if history repeats itself. The writing about artificial intelligence talks increasingly about the AI bubble and speculates on how and when it will burst. If this happens, there will be consequences for the whole economy and specific consequences for electric utilities, which have responded to growth in data centers with big investments in new generation and upgraded infrastructure.

Visit https://www.forbes.com/sites/llewellynking/2025/09/29/many-believe-the-ai-bubble-will-burst-effecting-electric-utilities/?ss=energy to view the full article online.

U.S. Sees Record Utility-Scale Storage Deployments, but Dropoff Looms: Report

While 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for energy storage, utility-scale deployments are set to decline in 2026 and likely won’t regain this year’s levels until 2029, the report said. WoodMac and ACP placed the blame on unfavorable federal policy changes, particularly around foreign battery material sourcing.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/us-sees-record-utility-scale-storage-deployments-but-dropoff-looms-report/761496/ to view the full article online.

Shareholder Earnings Shouldn’t be Default Source for Wildfire Costs: Brattle

Regulated utilities are subject to limits on how much they may spend on wildfire mitigation, which should limit their liability if they remain in compliance with regulators’ expectations, Brattle analysts say. But with the cost of some individual fires now reaching tens of billions of dollars, adding those liabilities to electric bills could exacerbate a growing affordability crisis, according to Andrew Dressel, a power industry consultant.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/shareholder-earnings-shouldnt-be-default-source-for-wildfire-costs-brattl/801979/ to view the full article online.

Report: Fossil Fuel Use Declines as Renewables Overtake Coal for the First Time

Solar and wind generation expanded faster than global electricity demand in the first half of 2025, leading to a slight decline in both coal and gas use compared to the same period last year, according to new analysis from Ember. The report finds that record solar growth and steady wind expansion are reshaping the global power mix, with renewables overtaking coal for the first time on record.

Visit https://www.tdworld.com/renewables/news/55322074/report-fossil-fuel-use-declines-as-renewables-overtake-coal-for-the-first-time to view the full article online.

Member Announcements

SRP and Google Launch Collaboration to Advance Long Duration Energy Storage Innovation, Grid Resilience in Arizona

Salt River Project (SRP) and Google announced a first-of-its-kind research collaboration to better understand the real-world performance of emerging non-lithium-ion long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies, aiming to accelerate the advancements needed to deploy LDES at scale. As part of the research collaboration, Google will fund a portion of the costs for LDES pilot projects developed for SRP’s grid.

Visit https://media.srpnet.com/srp-and-google-launch-collaboration-to-advance-long-duration-energy-storage-innovation-grid-resilience-in-arizona/ to view the full article online.

TerraPower, Evergy and the State of Kansas Announce Agreement to Explore Advanced Nuclear Energy Deployment

TerraPower, a nuclear innovation company, Evergy, and the Kansas Department of Commerce announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore siting TerraPower’s flagship technology, the Natrium® reactor1 and energy storage system, within Evergy’s service territory in Kansas. This agreement will enable the collaboration between the entities to evaluate site-specific characteristics for a potential advanced nuclear power plant, as well as explore the Natrium plant’s technical design and ability to support Evergy’s customers.

Visit https://newsroom.evergy.com/2025-09-23-TerraPower,-Evergy-and-the-State-of-Kansas-announce-agreement-to-explore-advanced-nuclear-energy-deployment to view the full article online.

United Power Welcomes Jared Nelson as Vice President of Energy Resource Planning

United Power is pleased to announce the hiring of Jared Nelson as its Vice President of Energy Resource Planning. “Jared will be a valuable asset in a critical operational area of our cooperative,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and Chief Executive Officer. “As United Power continues to navigate our power supply transition, the cooperative requires knowledgeable and capable talent to secure the right resources while keeping costs as low as possible. Jared’s many years of experience in the utility industry will help us to maximize our investments on behalf of United Power members.”

Visit https://www.unitedpower.com/united-power-welcomes-jared-nelson-vice-president-energy-resource-planning to view the full article online.

CPS Energy Adds 50 MW of Battery Storage to Portfolio with Beginning of Operations of Padua 1

CPS Energy, the nation’s largest municipally owned electric and natural gas utility, is announcing the beginning of operations of Padua 1, a 50-megawatt (MW) 2-hour duration Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Bexar County. This project advances the utility’s Vision 2027 strategy, which emphasizes delivering reliable, resilient, and cleaner energy solutions to meet the needs of San Antonio’s growing population.

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/cps-energy-padua-1-battery-storage/ to view the full article online.

Dakota Gas Breaks Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Record

Dakota Gasification Company, a subsidiary of Basin Electric, recently broke the all-time world record for the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestered. “And we didn’t break it just once,” said Trinity Turnbow, vice president and plant manager at Dakota Gas, “we broke it three days in a row.” That new record set was 147.7 million standard cubic feet per day.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/News-Center/news-briefs/Dakota-Gas-breaks-carbon-dioxide-sequestration-record to view the full article online.

Carl R. Ice College of Engineering Names Evergy its 2025 Company of the Year

Kansas State University's Carl R. Ice College of Engineering is honoring Evergy as its 2025 Company of the Year, recognizing the company’s outstanding commitment to engineering education, professional excellence, and community engagement. Evergy provides electricity to more than 1 million customers across Kansas and Missouri, with its impact extending beyond electricity.

Visit https://newsroom.evergy.com/2025-09-30-Carl-R-Ice-College-of-Engineering-names-Evergy-its-2025-Company-of-the-Year to view the full article online.

Xcel Energy and American Red Cross Announce Strategic Partnership

In recognition of Fire Prevention Month, Xcel Energy and the American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming are proud to announce a partnership that aims to empower Colorado residents with the knowledge and resources needed to prepare for and respond to wildfire risks. As part of the collaborative partnership, Xcel Energy representatives will work alongside Red Cross volunteers to deliver wildfire prevention guidance and home safety information and support families in developing emergency preparedness plans.

Visit https://newsroom.xcelenergy.com/news/xcel-energy-and-american-red-cross-announce-strategic-partnership to view the full article online.

White Paper

Light-Powered Chip Makes AI 100 Times More Efficient

Artificial intelligence is consuming enormous amounts of energy, but researchers at the University of Florida have built a chip that could change everything by using light instead of electricity for a core AI function. By etching microscopic lenses directly onto silicon, they’ve enabled laser-powered computations that cut power use dramatically while maintaining near-perfect accuracy.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250908175458.htm to view the full article online.

America is Throwing Away the Minerals that Could Power its Future

America already mines all the critical minerals it needs for energy, defense, and technology, but most are being wasted as mine tailings. Researchers discovered that minerals like cobalt, germanium, and rare earths are discarded in massive amounts, even though recovering just a fraction could eliminate U.S. dependence on imports.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250917221212.htm to view the full article online.

This Ultra-Thin Solar Tech Could Power Everything from Phones to Skyscrapers

A team in Sweden has unraveled the hidden structure of a promising solar material using machine learning and advanced simulations. Their findings could unlock durable, ultra-efficient solar cells for a rapidly electrifying world.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251001092218.htm to view the full article online.

When Sunshine Became Cheaper than Coal

Solar energy is now the cheapest source of power worldwide, driving a massive shift toward renewables. Falling battery prices and innovations in solar materials are making clean energy more reliable than ever. Yet, grid congestion and integration remain key challenges. Experts say smart grids and sustained policy support are crucial to accelerate the transition.

Visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251007081814.htm to view the full article online.

Alltricity Network (formerly known as RMEL)