U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has issued an emergency order aimed at reducing the risk of energy shortages in the Mid-Atlantic region. The directive instructs PJM Interconnection, in partnership with Constellation Energy, to keep Units 3 and 4 of the Eddystone Generating Station in Pennsylvania operational. This action is intended to address concerns about potential generation shortfalls that could cause power outages.
“With unprecedented energy demand and resource retirements outpacing new generation additions, the country is facing an energy emergency. Today’s order proves that the Trump Administration is dedicated to confronting this critical issue,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “This administration considers power outages and soaring energy costs to be unacceptable.”
The Department of Energy’s Grid Reliability Evaluation has indicated that if reliable power continues to be taken offline, power outages could become significantly more frequent by 2030.
Secretary Wright had previously ordered the Eddystone units to remain online past their planned retirement date in a May 30, 2025 emergency order. Over the last three months, these units were used during heat waves in June and July, which helped maintain grid stability for PJM.
The conditions that prompted the initial emergency order have not changed.
The current order takes effect on August 28, 2025 and will continue through November 26, 2025.
PJM has raised concerns about resource adequacy over several years. In a February 2023 report, PJM noted increasing risks related to balancing retirements of existing resources with rising demand and delays in bringing new generation online.
In December 2024, PJM submitted a filing to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) stating its analysis showed “substantial increases” in load additions and warned that “its resource adequacy concerns are increasing at an extraordinary pace.” More information can be found at https://www.congress.gov/119/meeting/house/118040/witnesses/HHRG-119-IF03-Wstate-AsthanaM-20250325.pdf.
During a March 2025 hearing before Congress, Manu Asthana, President & CEO of PJM Interconnection, testified there is a “growing resource adequacy concern . . . impacting a significant part of our country.”
