Energy executives told The Associated Press that companies can't make billion-dollar investments in clean energy projects with so much policy uncertainty. Consequently, greenhouse gas emissions will fall at a much lower rate than previously projected in the U.S., Nicholas Institute Director Brian Murray said.

U.S. energy policy is colliding with explosive electricity demand from AI, rising power prices and growing political backlash. Nicholas Institute Director Brian Murray writes about how policy uncertainty, grid constraints and the Intelligence Age are reshaping the energy landscape in 2025—and what to watch next.

A recently published Duke University report outlines a strategy for utilities to meet the nearly 100 GW of projected power demands of AI and data centers with existing grid capacity. The key is for utilities and data center operators to work together in a collaborative way that utilizes flexible load management, writes Matt Green (TRC Companies) in a post for Factor This.

Jackson Ewing, Nicholas Institute director of energy and climate policy, recently led the 2025 practicum course focused around the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the primary U.N. body for climate diplomacy around the world. Part of a Duke Climate Commitment series of climate research profiles.

Tim Profeta is an executive in residence at the Nicholas Institute whose areas of expertise include climate change and energy policy, the Clean Air Act, and adaptive use of current environmental laws to address evolving environmental challenges. Part of a Duke Climate Commitment series of climate research profiles.

Discover highlights from FY 2025 in this digital report. Covering July 2024 to June 2025, the report features actionable research, engagement with decision‑makers on emerging issues and hands‑on learning experiences that equip Duke students to lead.

The rise of artificial intelligence is accompanied by a rise in the need for huge data centers. Duke University researchers Merritt Cahoon and Ian Hitchcock talked with WAER's Deeper Shade of Green podcast about their recent report examining whether the build out of these data centers will be a boon or bust in resource uses and innovation.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright has directed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to standardize large load interconnections, but the advance notice of proposed rulemaking leaves open many critical questions. Former FERC Commissioner Allison Clements and Tyler Norris, lead author of a seminal Duke paper on load flexibility, talked with Latitude Media about some of those considerations.

Diesel generators are meant to be used rarely by data centers, but there is concern they could run more frequently if grid operators disconnect them during times of peak demand, reports Inside Climate News. An alternative future could include diversifying backup power options to include battery storage, renewables, natural gas or cleaner diesel products, noted a February report published by the Nicholas Institute.

Merritt Cahoon and Ian Hitchcock, researchers at the Deep Tech at Duke Initiative, joined the Policy 360 podcast to talk about a recent report they authored examining the sustainability challenges and opportunities for hyperscale data centers.

A seminal white paper from Duke University researchers suggests "headroom" available for data centers to reduce their energy consumption during system peaks could unlock up to 100 GW of spare capacity to integrate these large loads. Elizabeth K. Whitney, managing principal at Meguire Whitney, writes in Latitude Media about how hyperscalers would need to curtail their energy use from the grid to tap into that headroom.

Enabling load flexibility is critical to achieving speed-to-power for data centers and other large energy customers while keeping the grid reliable and affordable for everyone else, write former FERC Commissioner Allison Clements and Roselle LLP partners Miles Farmer and Sam Walsh in an op-ed for Utility Dive. The three were co-authors of a policy brief that offers rules that could comprise a workable framework to achieve large load flexibility success.

As a Ph.D. student and research fellow, Tyler Norris’ work is shaping industry and policy conversations, with bipartisan policy efforts, academic impact and a new career opportunity, Duke Today reveals in a new profile. A study on rethinking load growth in U.S. power systems that Norris co-authored has made waves across the energy sector. His research has led to a spot on the 2025 TIME100 Climate list, a guest essay in The New York Times and a new position at Google focused on energy innovation—and more.

For 20 years, the Nicholas Institute has pursued the “quest for yes”— bringing people together across differences, grounding big ideas in evidence and co-creating durable solutions to environmental and energy challenges. On Oct. 23, the institute welcomed students, scholars, alumni and partners in the community to an anniversary celebration that blended reflection with forward momentum.

Last Thursday, Energy Secretary Chris Wright directed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to consider rulemaking to fast-track interconnection for large loads—as long as they agree to be curtailable or colocate with dispatchable generation. Former FERC Commissioner Allison Clements and Duke Ph.D. student Tyler Norris joined the Catalyst podcast to discuss what the proposal actually means for interconnection.