The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced it is ready to take emergency measures to prevent blackouts during the approaching winter storm Fern. In a letter issued on January 22, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright called on grid operators across the country to maintain communication with DOE and be prepared to use backup generation resources from data centers and other large facilities if needed.
According to DOE estimates, there are more than 35 gigawatts of unused backup generation available nationwide. The department says that activating these resources could help avoid blackouts and lower costs for many Americans during the severe weather event.
Secretary Wright stated, “The Trump administration will not stand by and allow the previous administration’s reckless energy subtraction policies and bureaucratic red tape put American lives at risk. We have identified more than 35 GW of unused backup generation that exists across the country and are taking action to ensure that if the nation needs it, the generation will be made available. Rest assured, President Trump and the Energy Department remain committed to doing everything in our power to mitigate blackouts and lower energy costs for the American people.”
Since taking office, President Trump has declared a national energy emergency due to what his administration describes as vulnerabilities left by prior policies. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reports that winter electricity demand is rising quickly, while early closure of coal and natural gas plants has increased risks of power outages for families. NERC’s 2025–2026 Winter Reliability Assessment also notes elevated blackout risks in parts of the continental United States during extreme weather.
DOE’s National Laboratories estimate that power outages cost Americans $44 billion annually. The draft order aims to lessen these outages during winter months by enabling greater use of backup generation.
The proposed action was developed under section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act. If enacted, it would apply to data centers and large industrial or commercial facilities—including auxiliary, standby, directly connected, and battery storage systems—regardless of whether they are linked with the bulk power system. These resources would only be used after all demand response options have been exhausted and before a Reliability Coordinator declares an Energy Emergency Alert Level 3.
