Strengthening the Reliability and Security of the United States Electric Grid

Executive Order 14262 of April 8, 2025

Strengthening the Reliability and Security of the
United States Electric Grid

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Purpose. The United States is experiencing
an unprecedented surge in electricity demand driven by
rapid technological advancements, including the
expansion of artificial intelligence data centers and
an increase in domestic manufacturing. This increase in
demand, coupled with existing capacity challenges,
places a significant strain on our Nation's electric
grid. Lack of reliability in the electric grid puts the
national and economic security of the American people
at risk. The United States' ability to remain at the
forefront of technological innovation depends on a
reliable supply of energy from all available electric
generation sources and the integrity of our Nation's
electric grid.

Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States
to ensure the reliability, resilience, and security of
the electric power grid. It is further the policy of
the United States that in order to ensure adequate and
reliable electric generation in America, to meet
growing electricity demand, and to address the national
emergency declared pursuant to Executive Order 14156 of
January 20, 2025 (Declaring a National Energy
Emergency), our electric grid must utilize all
available power generation resources, particularly
those secure, redundant fuel supplies that are capable
of extended operations.

Sec. 3. Addressing Energy Reliability and Security with
Emergency Authority. (a) To safeguard the reliability
and security of the United States' electric grid during
periods when the relevant grid operator forecasts a
temporary interruption of electricity supply is
necessary to prevent a complete grid failure, the
Secretary of Energy, in consultation with such
executive department and agency heads as the Secretary
of Energy deems appropriate, shall, to the maximum
extent permitted by law, streamline, systemize, and
expedite the Department of Energy's processes for
issuing orders under section 202(c) of the Federal
Power Act during the periods of grid operations
described above, including the review and approval of
applications by electric generation resources seeking
to operate at maximum capacity.

    (b) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the
Secretary of Energy shall develop a uniform methodology
for analyzing current and anticipated reserve margins
for all regions of the bulk power system regulated by
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and shall
utilize this methodology to identify current and
anticipated regions with reserve margins below
acceptable thresholds as identified by the Secretary of
Energy. This methodology shall:

(i) analyze sufficiently varied grid conditions and operating scenarios
based on historic events to adequately inform the methodology;

(ii) accredit generation resources in such conditions and scenarios based
on historical performance of each specific generation resource type in the
real time conditions and operating scenarios of each grid scenario; and

(iii) be published, along with any analysis it produces, on the Department
of Energy's website within 90 days of the date of this order.

    (c) The Secretary of Energy shall establish a
process by which the methodology described in
subsection (b) of this section, and any analysis and
results it produces, are assessed on a regular basis,
and a protocol to identify which generation resources
within a region are critical to system reliability.
This protocol shall additionally:

(i) include all mechanisms available under applicable law, including
section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, to ensure any generation resource
identified as critical within an at-risk region is appropriately retained
as an available generation resource within the at-risk region; and

(ii) prevent, as the Secretary of Energy deems appropriate and consistent
with applicable law, including section 202 of the Federal Power Act, an
identified generation resource in excess of 50 megawatts of nameplate
capacity from leaving the bulk-power system or converting the source of
fuel of such generation resource if such conversion would result in a net
reduction in accredited generating capacity, as determined by the reserve
margin methodology developed under subsection (b) of this section.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or
the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.

    (Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    April 8, 2025.