The heat wave has already forced summer camps and other outdoor activities in the Midwest to be canceled, according to The Associated Press. "What we're seeing ... is exactly the kind of thing that we can expect going forward," Nicholas Institute expert Ashley Ward told NPR. "The baseline is warmer. So, when a heat dome or a high-pressure system sets up, it's now starting from a hotter floor. And so that makes the extreme heat more likely."

“At the end of the day, energy security triumphs any other climate considerations,” Nicholas Institute expert Sandeep Pai told AP News. Oil and gas shortages caused by the Iran war have meant much of Southeast Asia is now turning back to coal for energy security, disrupting a trend toward lower-emission electricity generation.

Duke Today featured the work of Duke researchers who are studying ocean solutions critical for long-term ecological health and community stewardship. “Research is important to understand our current ocean state,” said Stephanie Rousso, managing director of Oceans@Duke. “It’s important to build ocean ecosystems and communities that are more resilient to climate change.” 

Nicholas Institute expert Sandeep Pai spoke to The Wire about his recently published research on India's efforts to repurpose coal-powered facilities into new, cleaner electricity generation capacity. "A just transition in the energy realm could take different approaches," he said. "Many see coal asset repurposing, from closed mines and plants to new uses like solar, as an essential tool for a just transition."

Manoj Mohanan has been appointed vice provost for interdisciplinary programs, effective July 1, Provost Alec D. Gallimore announced. Mohanan is the Creed C. Black Professor of Public Policy and has served as interim dean of the Sanford School of Public Policy since 2024. He will have strategic oversight of Duke’s 11 institutes, initiatives and centers, including the Nicholas Institute.

Nicholas Institute expert Sandeep Pai is the featured guest on this episode of The Carbon Circle. The wide-ranging interview discusses his path to decarbonization research, India’s reliance on and recent moves away from domestic coal, and the importance of critical minerals in a clean energy transition.

Duke students explore the world of energy with the Certificate in Energy & Environment and the Energy Engineering minor through either a broad interdisciplinary lens or a deep technical dive. Both programs—launched with support from the Nicholas Institute—continue to evolve to keep up with modern energy trends.

Show cause orders issued Thursday by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission require organized markets to consider flexibility in data centers, something the Nicholas Institute has done influential studies on, reports RTO Insider. “FERC’s ruling emphasizes getting more from existing infrastructure broadly and gives runway for flexible interconnection options specifically,” said Nicholas Institute expert Jackson Ewing. “States and transmission organizations should prioritize these pathways.”

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) directed the six regional power grid operators in its jurisdiction to reform rules governing how data centers and other large energy consumers connect to the power grid, reports T&D World. Nicholas Institute expert Jackson Ewing said the FERC ruling emphasizes getting more from existing infrastructure broadly and gives runway for flexible interconnection options specifically. “States and transmission organizations should prioritize these pathways,” he said.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a series of orders intended to speed interconnection of data centers and other large energy users in six regional grids under its jurisdiction. The orders propose several reforms for grid operators to address, including providing new transmission services for flexible large loads. Duke University expert Jackson Ewing commented on the potential impact of FERC's actions.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's June 18 ruling on large loads "emphasizes getting more from existing infrastructure broadly and gives runway for non-firm interconnection options specifically," writes Nicholas Institute expert Jackson Ewing in a commentary at Latitude Media. "States and transmission organizations should prioritize these pathways."

High temperatures early in the heat season can be especially dangerous because people, institutions and daily routines have not fully adjusted to summer conditions, Nicholas Institute expert Ashley Ward told Coastal Review. “Our bodies acclimatize over time, so the temperature can pose a greater health risk in May or June than the same temperature later in the summer,” Ward said. “People may also be less prepared behaviorally.”

When does heat go from being uncomfortable to being dangerous for our bodies? In this Q&A with Ashley Ward, director of Duke University's Heat Policy Innovation Hub, learn how North Carolinians have a newly refined, evidence-based system to lean on as they make decisions about outdoor activities and heat precautions.

A new Nicholas Institute report outlines state competitiveness policies that broaden market participation and realign utility incentives to better address challenges facing the power sector in the southeastern United States. Analysis conducted for the report utilizes data from the Southeast Power Sector Competitiveness Dashboard, which evaluates 12 states in the region across 15 policy indicators.

It will be important for FIFA to make sure the athletes and conditions for play are safe in stifling heat at this summer's World Cup, but it also will be paramount to give as much attention to the safety of support staff and the fans, Nicholas Institute expert Ashley Ward told North Carolina Health News.

“Those are people who are not, in fact, at their physical peak, most likely," Ward said. “They are not in a position where they have access to perhaps shade and other kinds of structures that mitigate heat exposure.”