Hitachi Energy plans to invest $97 million to expand its manufacturing operation in Alamo, Tenn., creating 100 jobs to become the second-largest employer in Crockett County. The expansion will expand the company's capacity to produce transformer components, supporting energy infrastructure and grid modernization, says Steve McKinney, head of transformers for Hitachi Energy in North America.

Entergy Mississippi has finalized a $33 million investment aimed at strengthening the reliability of the transmission grid in Grenada County. The project, completed in June 2025, includes a new substation, two miles of transmission lines and three miles of distribution lines.

Third Pillar Solar, in partnership with Diamond Infrastructure Solutions, has secured exclusive rights to develop up to 500 MW of floating solar installations on Texas water reservoirs. The projects, targeted for completion by the end of the decade, could attract up to $700 million in investment. This initiative represents a significant leap for the US, where the current largest floating solar project is just 8.9 MW.

Puget Sound Energy's Beaver Creek wind farm in Montana has started operations with an initial capacity of 248 megawatts, enough to power 83,000 homes annually. The project, completed in just over a year, leverages PSE's existing transmission infrastructure to deliver clean wind energy to its customers.

Xcel Energy plans to file for Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval in 2026 for a 20-year license extension at its Prairie Island nuclear power plant after the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission authorized the facility to operate into the early 2050s. The plant's two reactors are currently licensed through 2033 and 2034.

Toyota has implemented its Sweep Energy Storage System at Mazda's Hiroshima plant, repurposing used battery packs from electric and hybrid vehicles. The system, which is still in testing, acts as a buffer between the factory's power supplies and the assembly line, utilizing batteries of different capacities and chemistries.

General Motors has established an AI center of excellence, primarily in Mountain View, Calif., by hiring nearly a dozen people from major tech companies such as Apple, Google and Meta. The team, led by Chief AI Officer Barak Turovsky and Executive Director of AI Research John Anderson, is collaborating across multiple divisions, from manufacturing and engineering to motorsports and finance. Projects include developing collaborative robots for factory lines, deploying generative AI coding tools, streamlining over-the-air software updates and providing data-driven insights for racing teams.

Production has begun at BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale, Ky., marking a significant milestone for the state's largest economic investment. Ford and SK On's $5.8 billion project is expected to create 5,000 jobs, with 1,450 positions already filled. The development comes shortly after a nearly $2 billion investment was announced for the nearby Louisville Assembly Plant to produce a new electric pickup truck.

US battery companies are increasingly seeking overseas manufacturing opportunities due to declining domestic support for clean technologies. Group14 has secured $463 million in funding, led by SK Inc., to take control of its manufacturing in South Korea, while Lyten has acquired Northvolt's facilities in Germany and Sweden. "Other regions are ahead of the U.S. in battery technology and innovation thanks to unpredictable political cycles and consumer skepticism on electrification," said Thomas Kavanagh of Argus Media.

Black Hills and NorthWestern Energy have agreed to merge in an all-stock deal to form a $15.4 billion regulated electric and natural gas utility. The merger aims to enhance grid infrastructure and meet rising power demand driven by data centers and increased residential and commercial usage. The combined company, which will be based in Rapid City, S.D., will operate in eight states and serve 2.1 million customers.