The United States Department of Energy has issued an emergency order authorizing continued operation of Unit 4 at the Wagner Generating Station in Anne Arundel County to support grid reliability across the mid-Atlantic region during the peak summer demand period.
The emergency action was approved by U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act following a request submitted by PJM Interconnection L.L.C. on May 21, 2026.
Under the order, PJM, in coordination with Talen Energy Corporation, will be permitted to operate Unit 4 at the Wagner Generating Station beyond its existing operating limits to meet anticipated electricity demand during the summer months.
According to the Department of Energy, the order is intended to help maintain reliable electricity supply for approximately 65 million Americans served by PJM’s regional power grid.
In a statement, Chris Wright said energy shortages affecting millions of Americans would be unacceptable and noted that previous emergency measures in the mid-Atlantic region had helped maintain grid stability during periods of elevated demand.
The Department stated that PJM continues to face growing resource adequacy concerns due to high seasonal temperatures and generator outages, resulting in insufficient remaining operating hours for Wagner Unit 4 under standard regulations.
The Wagner Generating Station has previously been granted emergency operational flexibility by the Department of Energy to support electricity reliability in the region.
The emergency order will remain in effect from May 22, 2026, through August 19, 2026, covering the critical summer demand period when electricity consumption and grid stress are expected to increase significantly across the PJM service territory.
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