Ken Sands
@kensands.bsky.social
Editor-in-chief @rtoinsider.bsky.social. Former top editor, @bloomberg.com, @cq, @chronicle.com, @spokesman. 🔌💡
BPA, EDAM, Markets+ rhetoric heats up:
"But, make no mistake, if the administrator ultimately decides to have Bonneville join EDAM without realizing the necessary improvements... NRU will not hesitate to challenge Bonneville’s action..." 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/143530-small...
"But, make no mistake, if the administrator ultimately decides to have Bonneville join EDAM without realizing the necessary improvements... NRU will not hesitate to challenge Bonneville’s action..." 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/143530-small...
Small and Rural BPA Customer Group Supports Markets+ While Working Constructively to Improve EDAM
A market that works for BPA's load-following NITS customers is a market that works for the region, argues a regional trade association.
www.rtoinsider.com
September 17, 2026 at 1:07 AM
BPA, EDAM, Markets+ rhetoric heats up:
"But, make no mistake, if the administrator ultimately decides to have Bonneville join EDAM without realizing the necessary improvements... NRU will not hesitate to challenge Bonneville’s action..." 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/143530-small...
"But, make no mistake, if the administrator ultimately decides to have Bonneville join EDAM without realizing the necessary improvements... NRU will not hesitate to challenge Bonneville’s action..." 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/143530-small...
Nice story on the controversy over solar in a corner of Idaho. Nice to see the gray areas on issues instead of pretending it can be black and white. (A bit tl:dr though.) 🔌💡
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
An Idaho county banned renewables. It’s having second thoughts.
Solar developments led county officials to ban renewables in 2024. Now, the Republican commissioner who instigated the moratorium is leading the charge to…
www.canarymedia.com
September 15, 2026 at 11:46 AM
Nice story on the controversy over solar in a corner of Idaho. Nice to see the gray areas on issues instead of pretending it can be black and white. (A bit tl:dr though.) 🔌💡
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
Breaking news today:
Federal court rules DOE was wrong to force coal plant to stay open. Ramifications for all of the other such orders. 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/143205-dc-ci...
Federal court rules DOE was wrong to force coal plant to stay open. Ramifications for all of the other such orders. 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/143205-dc-ci...
September 11, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Breaking news today:
Federal court rules DOE was wrong to force coal plant to stay open. Ramifications for all of the other such orders. 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/143205-dc-ci...
Federal court rules DOE was wrong to force coal plant to stay open. Ramifications for all of the other such orders. 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/143205-dc-ci...
This is interesting news, though a bit inside baseball.
The SAA allows a state to work with PJM to identify transmission upgrades required to achieve a policy goal and take on the costs of those projects: "...the costs of the transmission upgrades will be assigned to SoftBank.." 🔌💡
The SAA allows a state to work with PJM to identify transmission upgrades required to achieve a policy goal and take on the costs of those projects: "...the costs of the transmission upgrades will be assigned to SoftBank.." 🔌💡
There is a first time for everything, and in Ohio, it is the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio requesting PJM to initiate the State Agreement Approach under FERC Order 1000 to facilitate the interconnection of SoftBank’s PORTS-Pike Technology Campus.
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/CIRr50ZKE0e
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/CIRr50ZKE0e
September 8, 2026 at 8:54 PM
This is interesting news, though a bit inside baseball.
The SAA allows a state to work with PJM to identify transmission upgrades required to achieve a policy goal and take on the costs of those projects: "...the costs of the transmission upgrades will be assigned to SoftBank.." 🔌💡
The SAA allows a state to work with PJM to identify transmission upgrades required to achieve a policy goal and take on the costs of those projects: "...the costs of the transmission upgrades will be assigned to SoftBank.." 🔌💡
RTO Insider exclusive interview with BPA Administrator Travis Kavulla as a follow-up to his big pivot toward EDAM. 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/142344-edam-...
www.rtoinsider.com/142344-edam-...
September 4, 2026 at 11:25 AM
RTO Insider exclusive interview with BPA Administrator Travis Kavulla as a follow-up to his big pivot toward EDAM. 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/142344-edam-...
www.rtoinsider.com/142344-edam-...
Big news.
BPA switcheroo?
Previous administrator 100% Markets+; new administrator seems to favor EDAM.
www.rtoinsider.com/142342-kavul...
BPA switcheroo?
Previous administrator 100% Markets+; new administrator seems to favor EDAM.
www.rtoinsider.com/142342-kavul...
September 4, 2026 at 2:08 AM
Big news.
BPA switcheroo?
Previous administrator 100% Markets+; new administrator seems to favor EDAM.
www.rtoinsider.com/142342-kavul...
BPA switcheroo?
Previous administrator 100% Markets+; new administrator seems to favor EDAM.
www.rtoinsider.com/142342-kavul...
Big deal for those in the know.
Northwest utility officials make last-minute plea for BPA to NOT reverse course and join CAISO's EDAM and stick with SPP's Markets+ 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/142160-for-b...
Northwest utility officials make last-minute plea for BPA to NOT reverse course and join CAISO's EDAM and stick with SPP's Markets+ 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/142160-for-b...
September 3, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Big deal for those in the know.
Northwest utility officials make last-minute plea for BPA to NOT reverse course and join CAISO's EDAM and stick with SPP's Markets+ 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/142160-for-b...
Northwest utility officials make last-minute plea for BPA to NOT reverse course and join CAISO's EDAM and stick with SPP's Markets+ 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/142160-for-b...
Reposted by Ken Sands
A new report indicates that installed U.S. battery energy storage capacity jumped 20.2 GWh in this year’s second quarter, the largest quarterly increase ever.
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/IONS50ZI1SW
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/IONS50ZI1SW
September 2, 2026 at 1:00 PM
A new report indicates that installed U.S. battery energy storage capacity jumped 20.2 GWh in this year’s second quarter, the largest quarterly increase ever.
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/IONS50ZI1SW
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/IONS50ZI1SW
It is so hot and humid here in D.C. Not surprising it's pressuring the grid. 🔌💡
PJM continues to take proactive procedures to maintain reliable grid operations through unusually hot and humid weather. PJM has issued a Maximum Generation Alert for Sept. 2 for the region PJM serves. This alert does not require any action from customers. https://bit.ly/3UtPxC4
September 2, 2026 at 2:32 PM
It is so hot and humid here in D.C. Not surprising it's pressuring the grid. 🔌💡
Reposted by Ken Sands
North Dakota lawmakers will consider a temporary statewide ban on all nondisclosure agreements between data center developers and government regulators during a special legislative session that begins Sept. 2.
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/Vt1650ZHx2W
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/Vt1650ZHx2W
September 1, 2026 at 6:00 PM
North Dakota lawmakers will consider a temporary statewide ban on all nondisclosure agreements between data center developers and government regulators during a special legislative session that begins Sept. 2.
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/Vt1650ZHx2W
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/Vt1650ZHx2W
What you're missing if you're not subscribed to @rtoinsider.bsky.social
68 pages = one week of news on rtoinsider.com
🔌💡
68 pages = one week of news on rtoinsider.com
🔌💡
September 1, 2026 at 12:29 PM
What you're missing if you're not subscribed to @rtoinsider.bsky.social
68 pages = one week of news on rtoinsider.com
🔌💡
68 pages = one week of news on rtoinsider.com
🔌💡
So much at stake. So much in flux. Here's one nuance of the data center boom - who's going to make the turbines to generate the power? 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/141659-mad-s...
www.rtoinsider.com/141659-mad-s...
The Mad Scramble for Turbines and Implications for the Grid
With interconnection queues lengthening, and spare capacity rare, data center companies are resorting to self-supply.
www.rtoinsider.com
August 31, 2026 at 3:22 PM
So much at stake. So much in flux. Here's one nuance of the data center boom - who's going to make the turbines to generate the power? 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/141659-mad-s...
www.rtoinsider.com/141659-mad-s...
ACP The grid is not a collection of standalone assets; Pairing thermal generation and renewables with energy storage creates a portfolio that is cleaner, faster to deploy and more resilient than gas alone. 🔌💡 @yes-energy.bsky.social
www.rtoinsider.com/141186-new-b...
www.rtoinsider.com/141186-new-b...
The New Baseload: Firming Variable Generation with Battery Storage
Renewable generation can mitigate resource variability and enhance grid reliability by providing dependable capacity.
www.rtoinsider.com
August 29, 2026 at 1:02 PM
ACP The grid is not a collection of standalone assets; Pairing thermal generation and renewables with energy storage creates a portfolio that is cleaner, faster to deploy and more resilient than gas alone. 🔌💡 @yes-energy.bsky.social
www.rtoinsider.com/141186-new-b...
www.rtoinsider.com/141186-new-b...
Reposted by Ken Sands
3/3 Black Helicopter edition - PSYOPs
"A troubling trend has shown up in some communities around the U.S.: Public officials are being inundated with seemingly fake public feedback that aims to block renewable energy and promote fossil fuels." @canarymedia.com
🔌💡
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...?
"A troubling trend has shown up in some communities around the U.S.: Public officials are being inundated with seemingly fake public feedback that aims to block renewable energy and promote fossil fuels." @canarymedia.com
🔌💡
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...?
As Ohio grapples with fake comments on clean energy, some want…
Apparently fake public input has promoted fossil fuels and attacked clean energy in Ohio and beyond. Here’s what officials could do to try to stymie the…
www.canarymedia.com
August 27, 2026 at 11:26 AM
3/3 Black Helicopter edition - PSYOPs
"A troubling trend has shown up in some communities around the U.S.: Public officials are being inundated with seemingly fake public feedback that aims to block renewable energy and promote fossil fuels." @canarymedia.com
🔌💡
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...?
"A troubling trend has shown up in some communities around the U.S.: Public officials are being inundated with seemingly fake public feedback that aims to block renewable energy and promote fossil fuels." @canarymedia.com
🔌💡
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...?
Reposted by Ken Sands
Ratepayer advocates in a handful of PJM states and D.C. aren’t happy with the RTO’s concept for a reliability backstop procurement and have urged FERC to reject the idea.
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/hWca50ZG31y
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/hWca50ZG31y
August 27, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Ratepayer advocates in a handful of PJM states and D.C. aren’t happy with the RTO’s concept for a reliability backstop procurement and have urged FERC to reject the idea.
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/hWca50ZG31y
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/hWca50ZG31y
Reposted by Ken Sands
Two fossil fuel plants will continue to operate in Maryland into 2031 after FERC approved reliability-must-run extensions for the Brandon Shores and H.A. Wagner generating plants outside of Baltimore.
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/UiSn50ZFafM
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/UiSn50ZFafM
August 25, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Two fossil fuel plants will continue to operate in Maryland into 2031 after FERC approved reliability-must-run extensions for the Brandon Shores and H.A. Wagner generating plants outside of Baltimore.
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/UiSn50ZFafM
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/UiSn50ZFafM
Fascinating conundrum. How do you socialize the costs? Making utilities pay just raises the rates. Same with insurance. Pre-emptive fire mitigation of utility lines also causes rates to rise quickly. California is trying to figure it out. Maybe harden homes or not build in danger zones?🔌💡
"California’s strict liability regime creates powerful incentives to prevent utility ignitions and drives up retail electricity rates. It does much less to encourage home hardening, fuel treatments, defensible space, or safer development." energyathaas.wordpress.com/2026/08/24/w... by M. Fowlie 🔌💡
Who Should Pay for Utility-Ignited Wildfires?
This cost allocation fight is not a zero sum game On January 7, 2025, sparks from arcing electrical lines ignited dry brush in a canyon above Altadena. Powerful Santa Ana winds fanned flames that r…
energyathaas.wordpress.com
August 25, 2026 at 11:55 AM
Fascinating conundrum. How do you socialize the costs? Making utilities pay just raises the rates. Same with insurance. Pre-emptive fire mitigation of utility lines also causes rates to rise quickly. California is trying to figure it out. Maybe harden homes or not build in danger zones?🔌💡
Reposted by Ken Sands
Jersey City, New Jersey’s second-largest city, has joined a growing wave of municipalities that have moved to stop the development of data centers.
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/QEvR50ZEKAp
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/QEvR50ZEKAp
August 24, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Jersey City, New Jersey’s second-largest city, has joined a growing wave of municipalities that have moved to stop the development of data centers.
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/QEvR50ZEKAp
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/QEvR50ZEKAp
"A pilot program conducted last year found that potential requirements for property owners to report energy use to the city was 'easy to do' and 'pretty basic.'"
Large commercial property owners already report their energy use. The Climate and Health Standards would expand it to large multifamily.
Large commercial property owners already report their energy use. The Climate and Health Standards would expand it to large multifamily.
August 25, 2026 at 11:49 AM
Reposted by Ken Sands
ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas and General Counsel Chad Seely told the Texas PUC and lawmakers that it will likely take the grid operator most of 2026 to complete Gov. Greg Abbott’s data center audit request.
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/uN7r50ZEKtH
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/uN7r50ZEKtH
August 24, 2026 at 6:00 PM
ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas and General Counsel Chad Seely told the Texas PUC and lawmakers that it will likely take the grid operator most of 2026 to complete Gov. Greg Abbott’s data center audit request.
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/uN7r50ZEKtH
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/uN7r50ZEKtH
In electricity markets, "virtual transactions" are used to arbitrage price differences between day-ahead & real-time energy markets & hedge financial exposure from physical positions. What are increment offers; decrement offers; up-to congestion trades? 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/23402-virtua...
www.rtoinsider.com/23402-virtua...
Virtual Trading 101: INCs, DECs, UTCs
A brief primer on virtual trading: INCs, DECs and UTCs.
www.rtoinsider.com
August 21, 2026 at 2:06 PM
In electricity markets, "virtual transactions" are used to arbitrage price differences between day-ahead & real-time energy markets & hedge financial exposure from physical positions. What are increment offers; decrement offers; up-to congestion trades? 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/23402-virtua...
www.rtoinsider.com/23402-virtua...
Mark Christie, Re: FERC on PJM governance:
"Do not settle for cosmetic half measures to get some ‘kumbaya’ moment that falls short of what is needed." 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/139339-chris... @yes-energy.bsky.social
"Do not settle for cosmetic half measures to get some ‘kumbaya’ moment that falls short of what is needed." 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/139339-chris... @yes-energy.bsky.social
August 17, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Mark Christie, Re: FERC on PJM governance:
"Do not settle for cosmetic half measures to get some ‘kumbaya’ moment that falls short of what is needed." 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/139339-chris... @yes-energy.bsky.social
"Do not settle for cosmetic half measures to get some ‘kumbaya’ moment that falls short of what is needed." 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/139339-chris... @yes-energy.bsky.social
Reposted by Ken Sands
The Bonneville Power Administration has launched an initiative to accelerate the integration of large loads while seeking a “bolder and faster” approach to major policy initiatives, the agency’s new leader, Travis Kavulla.
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/u1iW50ZzPvx
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/u1iW50ZzPvx
August 14, 2026 at 1:19 PM
The Bonneville Power Administration has launched an initiative to accelerate the integration of large loads while seeking a “bolder and faster” approach to major policy initiatives, the agency’s new leader, Travis Kavulla.
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/u1iW50ZzPvx
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/u1iW50ZzPvx
Reposted by Ken Sands
New York is moving to consolidate its utilities’ customer direct load control programs into a single statewide platform.
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/SiZW50ZzPS4
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/SiZW50ZzPS4
August 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM
New York is moving to consolidate its utilities’ customer direct load control programs into a single statewide platform.
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/SiZW50ZzPS4
#energysky 🔌💡
ow.ly/SiZW50ZzPS4
In the weeds? Yes. Important? Also yes.
The July voltage disturbance in Virginia provides strong evidence of the potential instability large data centers can introduce to a local grid when they move to quickly to disconnect during disturbances. 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/138974-va-da...
The July voltage disturbance in Virginia provides strong evidence of the potential instability large data centers can introduce to a local grid when they move to quickly to disconnect during disturbances. 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/138974-va-da...
August 13, 2026 at 6:55 PM
In the weeds? Yes. Important? Also yes.
The July voltage disturbance in Virginia provides strong evidence of the potential instability large data centers can introduce to a local grid when they move to quickly to disconnect during disturbances. 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/138974-va-da...
The July voltage disturbance in Virginia provides strong evidence of the potential instability large data centers can introduce to a local grid when they move to quickly to disconnect during disturbances. 🔌💡
www.rtoinsider.com/138974-va-da...