The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on January 22, 2026, that it is prepared to take emergency measures to prevent blackouts as winter storm Fern approaches. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright sent a letter to grid operators across the country, urging them to keep in close contact with DOE and be ready to use backup generation resources at data centers and other large facilities if necessary.
DOE estimates that more than 35 gigawatts of unused backup generation capacity are available nationwide. The department believes using these resources could help avoid blackouts and lower costs for millions of Americans during the storm.
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.”
After taking office, President Trump declared a national energy emergency due to concerns about grid vulnerability following what officials described as an “energy subtraction agenda” from the previous administration. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has reported that winter electricity demand is rising quickly while early closures of coal and natural gas plants have increased risks for power outages. NERC’s Winter Reliability Assessment for 2025–2026 indicates several regions in the continental United States face higher blackout risks during severe weather.
According to DOE’s National Laboratories, power outages cost Americans $44 billion annually. The draft order issued by Secretary Wright aims to reduce such losses during winter months by making backup generation available when needed.
The proposed order was developed under section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act. It would apply to data centers and major industrial or commercial sites—including auxiliary, standby, directly connected, and battery storage systems—regardless of whether they are linked with the main grid. 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.
