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.

Price responsiveness informs utility forecasts of load growth and peak demand, regulatory evaluations of investments and rate structures and government analyses of energy policies and their impacts. A new report from Duke University experts presents updated estimates of one measure of price responsiveness in the U.S. residential electricity market—the price elasticity of demand for electricity—and explores how it varies across all 50 states.

Explore the wide-ranging landscape of power sector competitiveness across the Southeast United States with the Southeast Power Sector Competitiveness Dashboard. During this webinar on Dec. 11, the Nicholas Institute experts who developed the dashboard discussed its purpose, compared regional competitiveness metrics across states in the region, introduced the resource’s interactive features and information through a live demonstration, and answered audience questions.

What role can data center flexibility play in next-generation electric power systems? In this webinar held Dec. 9, hear about new modeling research from the GRACE Lab at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment and get expert insights from the energy and tech sectors.

Virginia ranks first, and Alabama last, in a Southeast power sector “competitiveness” dashboard launched this week by Duke University researchers, reports Utility Dive. Twelve states were scored according to indicators such as participation in wholesale power markets, net metering policies, presence of a consumer advocate, interconnection standards, procurement requirements and third-party power purchase agreements.

Developed by Nicholas Institute experts, the Southeast Power Sector Competitiveness Dashboard assembles key metrics on an array of policies and market characteristics that influence how utilities, regulators, producers and consumers interact. The dashboard covers 12 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

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.

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.

New Jersey Gov.-Elect Mikie Sherrill announced Nicholas Institute Executive in Residence Tim Profeta as one of the 17 experts who will serve on her "Making Energy More Affordable and Reliable" transition action team.

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.

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.

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.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission can make large load flexibility a reality through implementation of proposed rulemaking on large load interconnections, according to a policy brief published by the Nicholas Institute. “There are huge benefits potentially from these kinds of flexibility commitments,” co-author and Roselle LLP partner Sam Walsh told RTO Insider.