The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced it is ready to take emergency steps to prevent power outages as winter storm Fern approaches. In a letter sent by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, grid operators across the country were urged to stay in close contact with DOE during the storm and be prepared to activate backup generation resources at data centers and other large facilities if needed.
According to DOE estimates, there are more than 35 gigawatts (GW) of unused backup generation capacity nationwide. Making use of these resources could help avoid blackouts and reduce energy costs for many Americans during severe winter weather.
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.”
On his first day in office, President Trump declared a national energy emergency due to concerns about increased vulnerability in the electric grid following policy changes under the previous administration. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has reported that demand for electricity during winter is increasing rapidly while early closures of coal and natural gas plants have left households at greater risk for outages. The NERC 2025 – 2026 Winter Reliability Assessment warns that several regions across the United States face higher chances of blackouts when facing extreme weather.
Data from DOE’s National Laboratories shows that power outages cost Americans $44 billion each year. The new draft order from Secretary Wright aims to address these losses during winter months by allowing backup generation as a last resort before reliability coordinators declare an Energy Emergency Alert Level 3.
Under section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, this draft order would apply broadly—including data centers, industrial or commercial facilities, auxiliary systems, standby generators, directly connected sources, and battery storage—regardless of their connection status with larger grid systems. These resources would only be activated after all demand response measures have been used.
A full copy of Secretary Wright’s letter can be accessed online.
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