The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued an emergency order to authorize the use of backup generation resources in Texas during Winter Storm Fern. The order, made under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, allows the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to deploy backup generators at data centers and other major facilities to help prevent blackouts.
This decision comes after Energy Secretary Wright sent a letter to grid operators urging them to prepare for possible deployment of backup power if needed. The DOE estimates that more than 35 gigawatts of unused backup generation capacity is available across the country. Officials say this move will help ERCOT manage the extreme weather conditions in Texas and reduce costs for consumers during the storm.
“The Trump administration is committed to unleashing all available power generation needed to keep Americans safe during Winter Storm Fern,” said Energy Secretary Wright. “Unfortunately, the last administration had the nation on track to lose significant amounts of baseload power, but we are doing everything in our power to reverse those reckless decisions. The Trump administration will continue taking action to ensure that the 35 GW of untapped backup generation that exists across the country can be deployed as needed during Winter Storm Fern and in the future.”
President Trump previously declared a national energy emergency, citing concerns about increased vulnerability to blackouts following policy changes from the previous administration. According to a recent assessment by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), winter electricity demand is growing rapidly, while closures of coal and natural gas plants have left parts of the country at higher risk for outages. NERC’s 2025–2026 Winter Reliability Assessment warns that areas across the continental United States face elevated blackout risks during severe weather events.
Power outages result in an estimated annual cost of $44 billion for Americans, according to DOE’s National Laboratories. Officials say this emergency order aims to lessen those losses in Texas and demonstrates current policies intended to provide reliable electricity access.
The order is effective from January 24 through January 27, 2026.
NERC’s latest assessment indicates that ERCOT is particularly vulnerable this winter, with above-normal peak demand and potential outages possibly requiring additional mitigation efforts or emergency alerts.
