The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued two emergency orders to allow the use of backup power generation in the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas after Winter Storm Fern led to significant risks of blackouts in those regions. The orders, authorized under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, grant PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM), as well as Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC and Duke Energy Progress (collectively known as Duke Energy), permission to activate backup generation resources at data centers and other key facilities.
These measures come after Secretary Wright previously sent a letter urging grid operators to be ready to deploy backup generation if necessary. DOE estimates that over 35 gigawatts of unused backup generation capacity are available nationwide. The department says this move will help both PJM and Duke address extreme temperatures and storm damage while aiming to reduce costs for consumers in the aftermath of the storm.
This is the second set of emergency orders issued by DOE during Winter Storm Fern. Earlier directives allowed certain energy resources within PJM and Duke territories to operate regardless of environmental or state-imposed restrictions.
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 on his first day in office, citing concerns about grid reliability following policy changes from previous administrations. According to a recent assessment by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), winter electricity demand is increasing rapidly, while early closures of coal and natural gas plants have left families more exposed to outages during severe weather events. NERC’s 2025–2026 Winter Reliability Assessment notes an elevated risk for blackouts across much of the continental United States during extreme cold snaps.
Power outages cost Americans $44 billion annually according to research from DOE’s National Laboratories. The department expects these emergency orders will help prevent outages in affected areas while supporting efforts for reliable and affordable electricity.
The order for PJM is effective from January 26 through January 31, 2026; for Duke Energy, it covers January 26 through January 30, 2026.
NERC’s latest report forecasts that PJM will see one of the largest increases in peak winter demand this season. Above-normal peaks combined with potential equipment failures could require further operational interventions or trigger Energy Emergency Alerts.
These emergency actions align with President Trump’s executive order declaring a national energy emergency and are intended to secure enough power supply for heightened winter demands while minimizing blackout risks.
