MJL Morning Briefing |
| From Matt Leonard · Tuesday, July 7, 2026 |
TOP STORY FERC on July 2 denied independent power producer Advanced Power a waiver for its ~$2 billion gas-fired Chestnut Run project in PJM's fast-track Reliability Resource Initiative, finding the turbine-swap reconfiguration would delay interconnection studies for other generators. Utility Dive |
Energy Industry Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) urged FERC to reject NextEra Energy's $67 billion acquisition of Dominion Energy, warning the combined ~110-GW utility could manipulate PJM markets by favoring its own merchant generation over lower-cost competitors. Utility Dive |
National Politics Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner lost DSCC backing and faces widespread calls to quit — including from Pittsburgh Rep. Chris Deluzio — after Politico reported a 2021 sexual-assault allegation; he has until July 13 to exit the race against Sen. Susan Collins. Politico El-Sayed, Stevens clash in Michigan Senate debate as McMorrow exits Progressive Abdul El-Sayed and centrist Rep. Haley Stevens meet tonight in Grand Rapids for their first Michigan Democratic Senate debate after state Sen. Mallory McMorrow dropped out Sunday; the Aug. 4 primary winner faces GOP former Rep. Mike Rogers. Politico Playbook 1,205 DOJ alumni urge Senate to reject Blanche as attorney general A letter from 1,205 Justice Department alumni pressed the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject Todd Blanche's nomination for permanent attorney general, citing a 'degradation' of DOJ's career workforce, ahead of his confirmation hearing next Wednesday. Politico Playbook |
PA & NJ Politics Garrity splits from Shapiro on data-center development Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity is drawing a contrast with Gov. Josh Shapiro over data-center development — a top-of-mind issue in Pennsylvania as AI-driven projects strain the grid and reshape energy demand — Spotlight PA reports. Spotlight PA / PoliticsPA PA budget stalemate drags on with no movement in Harrisburg Pennsylvania's 2026-27 budget remained stalled Monday with no action in Harrisburg, a week past the June 30 deadline, as disputes over skill-games taxation and spending keep Senate Republicans and Gov. Shapiro apart. Indiana Gazette / PoliticsPA Push to open PA Senate's closed 'Rules Room' draws scrutiny A City & State report spotlights the fight to open up the Pennsylvania Senate's Rules Committee process — among the least transparent corners of the Capitol — as reformers press for more public visibility into how legislation is shaped. City & State PA / PoliticsPA |
On the Floor — Next Session House · Bill On Concurrence (keywords: data center, data centers) PA General Assembly Senate · Third Consideration (watchlist) PA General Assembly |
Pittsburgh Sports Pittsburgh erupted for five runs in the eighth — Konnor Griffin's tiebreaking two-run single and Brandon Lowe's three-run homer — to beat Washington 11-5 on Sunday and take the series; Bryan Reynolds added his 13th homer and Gregory Soto got the win in relief. ESPN |
Market Snapshot | PJM West Hub (RT) | $33.27/MWh -13.0% | | PJM AEP-Dayton (RT) | $31.81/MWh -12.3% | | PJM Capacity 27/28 | $333.44/MW-day | | Henry Hub | $3.33/MMBtu +2.1% | | WTI Crude | $68.99/bbl +0.6% |
As of Jul 7, 8:09 a.m. EPT (PJM RT) |
Curated by Matt Leonard. Numbers from real endpoints only. |