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EIA Estimates Record U.S. Electric Generating Capacity Additions in 2026, with Solar in the Lead

LCG, February 20, 2026--The EIA today issued an "in-brief analysis" that estimates U.S. power plant developers and operators plan to complete a record installation of 86 GW of new, utility-scale electric generating capacity that is connected to the U.S. power grid in 2026. Last year, 53 GW of new capacity was added to the grid, which was the largest capacity installation in a single year since 2002. Thus the estimate of 86 GW of new capacity in 2026 is a whopping 33 GW greater than the year prior. It should be noted that over 20 GW of the 86 GW of new capacity this year is estimated to be completed in December.

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Enhanced Geothermal Systems May Drive Significant Growth in Geothermal Power Generation

LCG, February 19, 2026--The EIA released an "in-brief analysis" today regarding the expected completion of the first, large-scale commercial enhanced geothermal system (EGS) in June 2026, and the significant growth potential for year-round, 24x7, carbon-free, renewable EGS power generation in the United States.

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Industry News

FERC Threatens Trading Licenses of Energy Companies

LCG, June 5, 2002--Today the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) warned that the trading licenses of four companies were in jeopardy due their lack of cooperation in an electricity market investigation.

Williams Cos. Ltd., El Paso Electric, which is independent of El Paso Corporation, Avista Corp., and Portland General Electric Co. were ordered to "show cause why the commission should not revoke their market-based rate authority" within ten days. According to FERC, the companies failed to properly respond to an order requiring that they state whether or not they had participated in manipulative market practices.

FERC's order, signed by three commissioners, said that the four energy traders' responses were "indicative of a failure by these companies to cooperate with our investigation."

Williams was told that it did not answer the original order in a straightforward manner, a statement that Williams contests.

Over 100 companies are under scrutiny in FERC's investigation, which came after memos were released relating Enron trading strategies to market manipulation. The Enron strategies in question include "ricochet," which called for selling electricity out-of-state prior to selling it in-state for the purposes of avoiding price caps and increasing profit.

FERC asserts that trading records from Portland General link that company and Avista to manipulative practices and that trading between the companies were "designed to further the Ricochet and Death Star trading strategies."

Although a public memo refers to $7.3 million in joint revenue between El Paso Electric and Enron, El Paso claimed a mere ball-park $700,000 in its affidavit to FERC and ignorance to any Enron actions taken on its behalf, which FERC asserts is "simply not credible."

Stocks of the four companies are seeing negative effects from the FERC order.

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