The first major U.S. heat wave of summer 2026 pushed a heat dome across the Central and Eastern U.S. in the days around July 4th, with temperatures regularly above 100°F. Hourly midday load on PJM, the nation’s largest grid operator, peaked near 160 GW, approaching the all-time record of 165,563 MW set in 2006.
The incremental supply came almost entirely from dispatchable generation. Nuclear, coal, and natural gas delivered 88% of the total, and the ramp concentrated in the two fuels that can be called on demand: coal rose from 14.3 to 24.2 GW (up roughly 69%) week-over-week, and gas from 43.6 to 55.0 GW (up 26%). Solar and wind held flat at 7.5 GW. The load event also triggered DOE’s third Section 202(c) emergency order of 2026, waiving plant emissions limits as wholesale prices topped $2,000/MWh.
The Energy Policy Research Foundation has initiated its Electric Power Vision 2030 project, which is detailed further in this document. Alongside internal research into electric power demand and the effects of electrification on energy policy and US economics, the project also includes a series of workshops. The first workshop took place on August 2, 2024 and included presentations from a panel of very knowledgable speakers: Max Pyziur (Energy Policy Research Foundation), Michelle Foss (Rice University Baker Institute), Isaac Orr (Always On Energy Research) and Thomas Popik (Foundation for Resilient Societies). Those presentations can be found attached to this post.
The Biden Administration’s recent tightening of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards will force car manufacturers to rapidly increase EV sales to be in compliance. If left in place, such standards will cause a rapid transition from a gasoline-based vehicle fleet to a battery-based vehicle fleet.
To examine the effects of such a transition in energy economies, the Energy Policy Research has conducted an analysis of the CAFE rules implications on potential wait times at charging stations over the next 25 years. This briefing gives an overview of this topic and provides historical context, a discussion of key regulatory tools, a formal analysis of potential wait times in the absence of sufficient charging facilities, and concludes with a set of recommendations for policymakers.
The Energy Policy Research Foundation has published this interactive chart as a result of their research into the IEA critical minerals data.
Michael Lynch, Energy Policy Research Foundation Distinguished Fellow and President of Strategic Energy & Economic Research, has published a short piece in Forbes entitled “Vermont’s Attack On Big Oil Is Pandering Not Climate Policy“. In this piece, he examines Vermont’s decision to pass a bill intended to charge oil companies for the damage climate change has caused and the implications of that decison.
EPRINC Director of Research Programs Max Pyziur was featured in a story in Scripps News written by John Mone. In the piece, Pyziur provides commentary on the IEA’s predictions of an imminent glut in oil production capacity in its recent report.
One of Pyziur’s quotes is below:
Max Pyziur, the research director for the Energy Policy Research Foundation, said, “Electrical generation from intermittent resources such as solar and wind, I see that as being very difficult to commission. Consequently, you’re going to continue to need to rely on oil and gas and coal for the duration.”
We’re excited to present to you our latest video on global LNG terminal capacity. The animation delves into the significance of LNG for securing and diversifying energy supplies, while also highlighting its positive impact on the US trade balance.
This video is part of the Foundation’s ongoing animation series on critical topics in energy security and energy transition.
EPRINC Distinguished Fellow Michael Lynch has published another piece in Forbes, entitled “Oil Companies Should Listen To Activists—But Skeptically“. Click the link to read the full article on the Forbes website! A PDF of the piece can be found here.
In an interview with Kevin Killough for Just the News, EPRINC’s Max Pyziur discusses the formidable efficiency gains that have been made by data centers helping to deliver increasing loads while questions remain as to their future electricity demand growth. The article, “America’s electricity grid is stressed, and new data centers may put even bigger demands on it“, was published February 18, 2024.
On Tuesday, December 5 2023, Energy Policy Research hosted a workshop called: “Pathways to Net Zero: Electric Power and EVs”. The workshop consisted of two panels to address the central tasks necessary to proceed with an energy transition that relies upon a rapid electrification of the national economy. We expect our attendees to participate in the discussion. Experts that are undertaking assessments on operational risks to the national grid from EPA energy mandates and the acceleration in power demand for EVs and other electrification proposals participated, as well as representatives from the automotive industry.
Our existing assessments on “Net Zero” have outlined cost risks, technology constraints, and regulatory obstacles for a rapid build out of the electric grid, including power requirements to meet demand from the expansion of EVs. Sound policy will require a careful understanding of the challenges ahead.
An agenda from the workshop is here, and some of the presentations that were given at the workshop can be found below.
EPRINC Trustee Larry Goldstein was quoted in two separate articles, one by CNBC and one by the New York Times, on the topics of the recent acquisitions by oil majors ExxonMobil and Chevron. Links to the articles are below:
CNBC – Why Exxon and Chevron are doubling down on fossil fuel energy with big acquisitions by Cat Clifford
Larry Goldstein (larryg@eprinc.org) is an internationally recognized authority on petroleum markets, and has extensive advisory relationships with energy companies, research institutes, and government agencies. He is a former president of the Petroleum Industry Research Foundation (PIRINC) now the Energy Policy Research Foundation (EPRINC), its successor organization, and continues to be on EPRINC’s Board of Trustees. He was a founder and president of the PIRA Energy Group, a major energy consulting firm that was acquired by S&P Global in 2016.
On Monday October 23, 2o23, RealClear Energy published an article titled “Streamline the Regulatory Process to Expedite U.S. LNG Exports”, coauthored by EPRINC President Lucian Pugliaresi and President & CEO of The USLNG Association (“LNG Allies”) Fred Hutchison. In the article, they make a strong case against “the current slow pace of the Department of Energy’s U.S. LNG export authorizations to countries with which the U.S. does not have a free trade agreement (FTA) that includes natural gas—which, by the way, includes all of Europe, including the United Kingdom and Türkiye.” They argue that “U.S. LNG exports are making substantial contributions to U.S. trade balances and domestic employment and bolstering the energy security of our allies. The disruption of pipeline gas shipments to Europe following the Russian invasion of Ukraine was a severe blow to European economic growth and security.”
The full article can be found on the RealClear Energy website, here.
On October 23, EPRINC Director of Energy Transition Research Batt Odgerel presented at the American Energy Transition Forum. His presentation, titled “Understanding the Cost, Risk, and Scale Challenge of the Net Zero Transition”, can be found here.
According to the American Energy Transition Forum’s website:
“The American Energy Transition Forum will explore the tools and technologies which will propel this decarbonization journey. The event will gather like-minded stakeholders from the public, business, scientific and innovation sectors. The event will tackle various decarbonization pathways, such as expansion of renewable energy production, carbon capture and storage technology, hydrogen, ammonia and advanced biofuels. Although one of the ultimate goals seems to be fossil fuel substitution with renewables, such sources of energy as LNG cannot be left out as part of successful energy transition. In addition to energy resources, such important areas as climate-tech investments, digitized solutions for energy transition acceleration, energy efficiency and many more topics crucial to the decarbonization journey will be addressed at the event.”
On Wednesday, October 18 2023, EPRINC President Lucian Pugliaresi participated in the Hudson Institute’s panel discussion entitled: “The Arab Oil Embargo 50 Years Later: Lessons Learned and Missed Opportunities”. Specifically, Lou was a member of the panel that focused on “Lessons Learned” from the embargo.
A recording of the event and more information about the discussion are available on the Hudson Institute’s website, here.
On Wednesday, October 11, Eurasia Foundation hosted an opening ceremony for 25 new Young Professionals Network (YPN) fellows. Batt Odgerel, Director of Energy Transition Research at Energy Policy Research, joined “a diverse array of professional backgrounds, including consulting firms, think tanks, universities, governmental, non-governmental, and international organizations. It includes fellows from Accenture Federal Services, American Councils for International Education, American Enterprise Institute, American University, the Atlantic Council, Chemonics International, Dataminr, the Foreign Service, Freedom House, Georgetown University, Hudson Institute, International Business Initiatives, Johns Hopkins University, National Endowment for Democracy, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Solidarity Center, TD International, and the World Bank Group’s CGAP. The new cohort also represents six countries: Armenia, China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Singapore, and the United States. All have extensive education, work experience, and language skills relating to the Eurasia region.”
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A series of short executive briefings providing essential background information on often challenging debates on energy and security policy.
A list of personal publications by EPRINC trustee Larry Goldstein
Energy Policy Research Foundation Distinguished Fellow Ashutosh Shastri’s perspectives on energy in Europe
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Dominick Blue
Distinguished Fellow
Dominick Blue is a Distinguished Fellow at the Energy Policy Research Foundation (EPRINC), where his research focuses on energy resilience, reliability, and the secure integration of emerging technologies into the power sector. His current work examines the intersection of advanced computing, infrastructure planning, and national energy security.Dominick’s research portfolio includes analysis of AI and data center electricity demand-forecasting regional load growth, reliability implications, siting dynamics, and market coordination. He also leads studies on grid modernization and energy security, assessing resilience investments, interconnection constraints, and federal–state coordination under higher load scenarios. His additional work explores the revival of the U.S. nuclear sector, financing and licensing pathways for advanced reactors, and rebuilding domestic manufacturing capacity to support the nuclear supply chain.Further research areas include gas-to-power infrastructure, pipeline and turbine capacity, and the role of gas in maintaining reliability within a diversified generation mix. Across these topics, Dominick focuses on translating complex technical findings into accessible policy insights for decision-makers at DOE, FERC, and state regulatory agencies.Before joining EPRINC, Dominick held senior leadership roles in infrastructure, technology, and risk management, including Managing Partner and Director of Client Innovation for private investment and global critical infrastructure firms, respectively. A former U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Two in CBRN Defense, he brings a mission-driven perspective to energy resilience and safety. He holds a Masters of Business from the University of Southern California and has completed graduate studies in Computer Science at Georgia Tech, with research interests in AI systems, resilient infrastructure, and energy transition security.
