Competitive Power Highlights | June 2026
In May, competitive power companies continued investing in the generation resources and infrastructure needed to meet rising electricity demand and maintain reliability.
EPSA member companies announced major investments across competitive electricity markets, including the acquisition of a 250-megawatt natural gas facility in Maryland, plans for a 1,700-megawatt natural gas plant in Ohio, a proposed 600-megawatt solar project in Illinois, and 5 gigawatts of new generation and storage projects under evaluation in PJM.
Other developments include the opening of new solar and dispatchable generation projects in Maryland and Texas, recognition for partnerships that support customer choice in California, and continued investments in local communities through support for education, emergency services, recreation, and energy assistance programs.
As grid operators prepare for another summer of high electricity demand, these updates demonstrate how competitive power companies are delivering the resources needed to keep the lights on. From expanding generation capacity and advancing new technologies to extending the life of existing assets and investing in local communities, competitive markets continue to attract private capital, strengthen reliability, and protect consumers.
Read for more updates from Alpha Generation, Calpine, Competitive Power Ventures, Constellation, Earthrise Energy, Invenergy, NRG Energy, Talen Energy, Tenaska, and TXU Energy.
Competitive Market Investment By the Numbers
Each month, Competitive Power Highlights tracks investments, project milestones, and community initiatives announced by EPSA member companies across competitive electricity markets.
5 GW:
New generation and storage projects entered PJM’s interconnection queue by Constellation
1,700 MW:
Proposed natural gas generation project in Ohio
600 MW:
Approved solar project in Illinois
460 MW:
New dispatchable generation brought online in Texas
250 MW:
Natural gas facility acquired in Maryland
160 MW:
New utility-scale solar project placed into service in Maryland
1,000+ jobs: expected from the Pride of the Prairie solar project
$1 billion: estimated economic impact from Tenaska’s CCS initiative
~3.2 GW: Total generation capacity represented by major project announcements and additions highlighted in May
New Investments and Generation Projects Advance Power Supply Across Competitive Markets
EPSA Members Advance Projects in PJM Interconnection and Beyond
Constellation Enters 5 GW of Projects into PJM Queue:
Constellation entered 5 GW of projects — including unique nuclear uprates, new gas-fired generation and new battery storage — into PJM Interconnection’s generation queue as the company positions itself to meet rising electricity demand.
In the company’s May earnings call, Constellation President and CEO Joe Dominguez noted, “As customers look to contract new capacity… we have a diverse set of projects that align well with PJM’s proposed framework and can meet those needs.”
“We are highly motivated to identify and provide workable capacity solutions for both customers and the broader market. Ultimately our objective is to unlock the full value of our clean, firm energy and associated attributes in a way that benefits all customers.”
More than 800 new power projects with roughly 220 GW of capacity applied to connect to the grid under PJM’s new interconnection queue cycle, offering an early market-based indicator of a competitive power response to rapidly growing demand.
Earthrise Energy Receives Approval for 600-MW Illinois Solar Project:
Earthrise Energy received approval from the Will County Board to build the 600-MW Pride of the Prairie solar project in Illinois. The project will leverage the existing interconnection point at Earthrise’s Lincoln Generating Facility, helping bring new power online more quickly as electricity demand continues to grow across the region.
“This approval is a significant milestone in delivering sustainable, renewable energy in Illinois,” said Jeff Hunter, Chief Executive Officer of Earthrise Energy. “Illinois is among the fastest-growing electricity markets in the Midwest, and projects like Pride of the Prairie are critical to meeting demand reliably and quickly. By repurposing the transmission infrastructure of existing power plants for renewable energy development, Earthrise can bring new energy supply to the grid significantly faster than traditional greenfield projects. Pride of the Prairie is an ideal implementation of that approach and we are excited to get started.”
The project is expected to deliver significant economic benefits to Will County and the state, including an estimated $3.5 million in new tax proceeds to local taxing bodies and approximately $300,000 directly to the county in its first year of operation. Over the life of the project, those benefits are projected to total roughly $80 million and $7 million, respectively, supporting local schools, infrastructure improvements, and public services.
Pride of the Prairie is also expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs in Will County, including hundreds of construction positions and long-term operations roles. The project will be fully constructed by local unions and developed through continued engagement with residents, landowners, and community stakeholders.
Tenaska Proposes 1,700-MW Natural Gas Plant in Ohio:
Tenaska proposed a 1,700-megawatt natural gas-fueled power plant in Jefferson County, Ohio, as part of its broader Tri-State Energy Hub initiative, which also includes plans for a carbon capture and storage (CCS) hub across the region. The combined-cycle facility, planned would be capable of generating enough electricity to reliably power approximately 1.7 million homes.
“We’ve always considered CCS to be an enabler, as an emissions solution for existing industry and as a draw for new business investment,” said Ali Kairys, Senior Director of Project Development at Tenaska. “Tenaska’s robust development experience positions us to advance this concept and meet the growing demand for reliable power generation.”
Tenaska said the expanded Tri-State Energy Hub is expected to deliver significant economic benefits across the region through jobs, tax revenue, landowner payments, and contractor opportunities. The CCS portion of the project alone is estimated to have a $1 billion economic impact across the tri-state area. Local leaders also highlighted the project’s potential to support long-term economic growth and strengthen the region’s tax base.
Construction is targeted to begin no earlier than 2028 pending permits and approvals, with operations expected to start in 2032 or 2033.
Competitive Power Ventures Celebrates Opening of 160-MW Maryland Solar Project:
Competitive Power Ventures celebrated the official ribbon cutting of the CPV Backbone Solar project, the largest utility-scale solar project in Maryland. The 160-megawatt facility adds new generation to the grid while supporting Maryland’s goal of reaching 50% renewable energy generation by 2030.
The project is expected to help meet growing regional electricity demand while delivering economic benefits to the local community through new tax revenue, jobs, and contractor opportunities. Construction supported hundreds of jobs and created work for local suppliers and skilled trades workers. A planned second phase currently under construction is expected to expand the facility’s total installed capacity to 175 MW.
“Today represents more than the completion of an energy project. It represents investment in this community, in domestic energy production, and in our shared future,” said Sherman Knight, CEO of CPV. “At a time when there is a need and call for affordable energy solutions, CPV Backbone Solar is able to provide clean, low-cost power to the region.”
Investments in Existing Reliable Power
Alpha Generation Acquires Natural Gas Facility in Maryland
Alpha Generation and ArcLight Capital Partners acquired the Brandywine Power facility, a 250-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas facility in Maryland that provides essential capacity, energy, and ancillary services supporting reliability across the Mid-Atlantic, including the Washington, D.C. metro area.
Located near AlphaGen’s Keys Energy Center, the facility is well positioned to help meet growing electricity demand driven by AI and electrification while creating opportunities for operational coordination, commercial flexibility, and long-term offtake solutions following Keys’ recent 10-year supply agreement with Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative.
“Brandywine is a strategic asset that benefits from AlphaGen’s scale and operational capabilities, and ArcLight’s long-term infrastructure investment approach,” said Curt Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of AlphaGen. “This acquisition strengthens our ability to offer durable, contract-backed solutions in markets where reliability matters most. Our portfolio scale allows us to reliably dispatch power, manage operational risk, and work constructively with regulators and customers to support long‑term capacity and energy needs.”
Tenaska Celebrates 25 Years of Operations at the Tenaska Gateway Generating Station
Tenaska celebrated 25 years of safe and reliable operations at the Tenaska Gateway Generating Station marking the milestone with a community event attended by employees, families, local leaders, business partners, and state and federal representatives. Since coming online in 2001, the natural gas-fueled facility has generated power for homes and businesses across the region while supporting grid reliability in both ERCOT and the Southwest Power Pool.
“For 25 years, the Tenaska Gateway team has kept reliable power flowing to the grid while maintaining safe and reliable operations and investing in the local community,” said Chris Leitner, President and CEO of Tenaska. “We couldn’t be prouder of what this team has built, and we are excited for what the next 25 years will bring.”
The 845-megawatt plant has produced nearly 90 million megawatt-hours of electricity to date — enough to power approximately 830,000 homes — and has contributed more than $75 million in employee salaries and more than $60 million in local property taxes since operations began. The facility has also maintained a strong safety record, with employees working more than 1.5 million hours without a lost-time incident and earning OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program Star designation.
“It’s not just a facility we’ve built, it’s a team, a track record, and a real connection to this part of Texas,” said Gary Skidmore, Plant Manager at Tenaska Gateway. “That’s what 25 years looks like when people show up and take pride in what they do.”
EPSA Members Celebrated The Opening of Projects in PJM and ERCOT
Constellation celebrated the opening of the 460-megawatt Pin Oak peaking power plant in Central Texas, the first Texas Energy Fund loan-backed project to come online and deliver additional dispatchable power to ERCOT. Designed to quickly supply electricity during periods of peak demand, the facility will help strengthen grid reliability and support Texas’ growing energy needs.
“When we joined Governor Abbott in December 2023 to announce this project, we made a commitment to help bring new, reliable power to the Texas grid, and today, we delivered on that commitment,” said Andrew Novotny, President and CEO of Calpine and Senior Executive Vice President of Constellation Power Operations. “We’re proud to be part of strengthening grid reliability in Texas while helping meet the state’s growing energy needs.”
Industry Partnerships Support Customer Choice
Calpine received recognition from the California Community Choice Association (CalCCA) during the organization’s 10-Year Anniversary Celebration, held May 13 as part of the 2026 CalCCA Conference in Sacramento. The event brought together Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs), energy industry leaders, policymakers, and public power advocates to celebrate a decade of advancing Community Choice Aggregation in California and CalCCA’s role in shaping the state’s evolving energy landscape. Calpine was recognized for its longstanding partnership with and support for California CCAs.
The recognition underscores the role competitive power companies play in expanding customer choice and supporting evolving retail electricity markets.
EPSA Members Give Back to Their Local Communities
EPSA member companies continued investing in the communities where they operate through support for education, recreation, emergency services, environmental stewardship, food assistance, and energy affordability programs.
Invenergy employees volunteered with the American Legion Post 143 of Schulenburg, Texas before Memorial Day and supported the Flatonia Independent School District for Teacher Appreciation Week.
Invenergy also made $2,000 donations to the West Liberty, Atalissa, and Nichols fire departments in Muscatine County, Iowa.
NRG employees participated in NRG’s 19th annual PositiveNRG Impact Week by teaming up with food rescue organization Sharing Excess to unload and sort pallets of donated food in Philadelphia.
Talen announced expanded long-term support for the Montour Preserve in Pennsylvania through a new agreement with the Montour Area Recreation Commission (MARC) that extends the site’s lease term, funds future operations, and includes millions of dollars in planned upgrades and infrastructure improvements.
Under the agreement, Talen will extend the lease term to 25 years with the option to extend to 99 years while maintaining the current $1-per-year lease rate. The company will also fund MARC’s 2026 operating expenses for the Preserve and assume responsibility for future capital improvements to the Visitors’ Center and Environmental Education Center. Additional planned investments include trail, bridge, lighting, and resurfacing upgrades, as well as a separate $15 million project to enhance the Lake Chillisquaque auxiliary spillway.
“Talen is pleased to further strengthen its commitment to MARC and the Montour Preserve,” said Talen Chief Operating Officer Brad Berryman. “Through ongoing conversations with community members and local leaders, Talen recognizes how important the Montour Preserve is to the region, and we are committed to supporting its long-term sustainability and public accessibility.”
The Montour Preserve welcomes approximately 100,000 visitors annually and serves as a major recreational and environmental resource for central Pennsylvania.
TXU Energy partnered with The Salvation Army of Wichita Falls to distribute box fans to families in need in Wichita Falls, Texas. TXU Energy will also present The Salvation Army with a $100,000 check to provide Energy Aid bill-payment assistance to families in the Wichita Falls area.
More in This Series:
America’s competitive power producers are meeting today’s challenges by investing in the resources needed to support reliability, meet growing demand, and serve consumers. Competitive electricity markets continue to attract private capital, discipline costs, encourage innovation, and expand electricity supply across the country.
