The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued two emergency orders authorizing the use of backup generation resources to prevent blackouts in the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas following Winter Storm Fern. The orders, made under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, allow PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM), Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, and Duke Energy Progress to deploy backup power at data centers and other critical facilities.
This decision comes after Secretary Wright sent a letter to grid operators on Thursday urging them to prepare for possible deployment of backup generation due to the storm’s risks. The DOE estimates that over 35 gigawatts of unused backup generation are available nationwide. By activating these resources, PJM and Duke aim to respond more effectively to extreme weather conditions and reduce energy costs for consumers in affected regions.
These latest actions follow previous emergency orders issued during Winter Storm Fern, which allowed specified resources in the PJM and Duke service areas to operate beyond usual environmental or state-imposed limits.
U.S. Energy Secretary Wright stated: “The Trump administration is committed to unleashing all available power generation needed to keep Americans safe during Winter Storm Fern. Unfortunately, the last administration had the nation on track to lose significant amounts of baseload power, but we are doing everything in our power to reverse those reckless decisions. The Trump administration will continue taking action to ensure that the 35 GW of untapped backup generation that exists across the country can be deployed as needed during Winter Storm Fern and in the future.”
President Trump declared a national energy emergency at the start of his term due to concerns about grid vulnerability following policy changes by previous administrations. According to an assessment from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), winter electricity demand is rising rapidly while closures of coal and natural gas plants increase blackout risks during severe weather events.
NERC’s 2025–2026 Winter Reliability Assessment highlights that PJM is expected to have one of the highest increases in peak demand this winter. The report also notes that above-normal peaks could require mitigation efforts or trigger Energy Emergency Alerts.
Power outages cost Americans $44 billion annually according to data from DOE’s National Laboratories. Officials expect these new orders will help lessen outage impacts in affected states while supporting policies aimed at maintaining affordable and reliable electricity access.
The order covering PJM is effective January 26 through January 31, 2026; for Duke Energy companies, it runs from January 26 through January 30, 2026.
Orders like these align with President Trump’s Executive Order declaring a national energy emergency and are intended to ensure sufficient electricity supply during periods of high demand caused by extreme weather.
