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 concerns about blackouts. The orders, which rely on Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, give PJM Interconnection, LLC and Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC and Duke Energy Progress (together known as Duke Energy) permission to deploy backup generators at data centers and other key sites.
These emergency measures come after Secretary Wright sent a letter earlier in the week urging grid operators to be ready to use backup generation if needed. The DOE estimates that more than 35 gigawatts of unused backup generation are available nationwide. This step is intended to help manage high electricity demand and damage from severe weather while aiming to reduce costs for residents in affected regions.
This is the second set of emergency orders directed at PJM and Duke during Winter Storm Fern. Previous directives allowed certain resources within their territories to operate without regard for limits set by environmental permits or state laws.
U.S. Energy Secretary Wright said, “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 under previous administrations. According to a recent report by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), winter electricity demand is rising quickly while closures of coal and natural gas plants have made some areas more susceptible to outages. NERC’s 2025–2026 Winter Reliability Assessment also indicates an increased risk of blackouts during extreme weather across much of the United States.
The DOE notes that annual costs from power outages total $44 billion according to its National Laboratories. Officials say these new orders are intended both to reduce outages in regions hit by Winter Storm Fern and reflect policies aimed at providing affordable, reliable, and secure electricity supplies.
The order for PJM will be active from January 26 through January 31, 2026; for Duke Energy, it will run from January 26 through January 30, 2026.
NERC’s latest assessment forecasts that PJM could see one of the largest increases in peak demand this winter nationwide. It warns that above-normal peaks or unexpected outages may require further emergency actions or alerts.
According to DOE officials, these steps follow President Trump’s executive order declaring a national energy emergency and aim to maintain sufficient electricity supply during periods of high demand or adverse conditions.
