WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today issued an emergency order to mitigate blackouts in the Mid-Atlantic during Winter Storm Fern. Issued pursuant to Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, the order authorizes PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM) to run specified resources located within the PJM Region, regardless of limits established by environmental permits or state law. The order will help PJM with the extreme temperatures and storm destruction across the Mid-Atlantic and reduce costs for Americans during the winter storm.
“As Winter Storm Fern brings extreme cold and dangerous conditions to the Mid-Atlantic, maintaining affordable, reliable, and secure power in the PJM region is non-negotiable,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “The previous administration’s energy subtraction policies weakened the grid, leaving Americans more vulnerable during events like Winter Storm Fern. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are reversing those failures and using every available tool to keep the lights on and Americans safe through this storm.”
On day one, President Trump declared a national energy emergency after the Biden administration’s energy subtraction agenda left behind a grid increasingly vulnerable to blackouts. According to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), “Winter electricity demand is rising at the fastest rate in recent years,” while the premature forced closure of reliable generation such as coal and natural gas plants leaves American families vulnerable to power outages. The NERC 2025 – 2026 Winter Reliability Assessment further warns that areas across the continental United States have an elevated risk of blackouts during extreme weather conditions.
Power outages cost the American people $44 billion per year, according to data from DOE’s National Laboratories. This order will help mitigate power outages in the Mid-Atlantic and highlights the commonsense policies of the Trump Administration to ensure Americans have access to affordable, reliable and secure electricity.
The order is in effect from January 25—January 31, 2026.
BACKGROUND
Orders such as this are in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order: Declaring a National Energy Emergency and will ensure the availability of generation needed to meet high electricity demand and mitigate the risk of blackouts.
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