The U.S. Department of Energy issued its latest emergency order on August 19, authorizing PJM Interconnection to continue operating Wagner Unit 4 at a Maryland generating station through mid-November to prevent power shortfalls across the Mid-Atlantic.
Under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, Energy Secretary Chris Wright directed PJM to coordinate with Talen Energy Corporation to run Wagner Unit 4 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, beyond its normal operating limit. The order, designated No. 202-26-25, takes effect August 20 and expires November 17, 2026.
“Energy shortfalls for 65 million Americans are simply unacceptable,” Wright said in a statement. “Previous orders in the mid-Atlantic region have helped keep the lights on and I am confident this order will help do so in the coming months as well.”
Recurring Emergency Orders Signal Deeper Grid Strain
The order marks the latest in a series of emergency actions the DOE has taken to keep aging power plants online across the PJM service territory, which spans 13 states and the District of Columbia. PJM previously relied on Wagner Unit 4 during periods of unusually high temperatures earlier this summer, depleting the unit’s remaining permitted operating hours under its Clean Air Act limit.
PJM has told the DOE that it continues to need the unit during periods of high electricity demand to maintain reliable grid operations. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s 2026 Summer Reliability Assessment noted that if extremely high temperatures persist, PJM may need demand-response resources to help reduce load.
The emergency order reflects a broader pattern of grid stress driven by the convergence of several factors. Record-breaking heat waves this summer pushed PJM to project peak loads exceeding 160,000 MW, while rapidly growing data center demand continues to add pressure on an already strained system. The DOE estimates more than 35 GW of unused backup generation remains available nationwide.
Grid Reliability Under Pressure Nationwide
Power outages already cost American consumers $44 billion per year, according to DOE National Laboratories data. The repeated use of emergency Section 202(c) orders, which give the Energy Secretary authority to direct power plant operations during emergencies, has drawn criticism from environmental groups who argue the orders allow aging fossil fuel plants to bypass environmental restrictions.
PJM has documented what it describes as a “growing resource adequacy concern” driven by the retirement of conventional power generation, the rapid expansion of data center loads, and extreme weather events. The grid operator serves more than 65 million people and has repeatedly petitioned the DOE for emergency authority to keep specific plants running beyond their standard operating limits.
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy; NERC 2026 Summer Reliability Assessment; PJM Interconnection
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