$1 Trillion Won't Save the US Power Grid; 2026 Central Document No. 1 Outlines Comprehensive Rural Energy Green Transition

（2026/02/02—2026/02/08）

Author：Hao-Wang

International Energy News

1. $1 Trillion Won't Save the US Power Grid

In late January, a polar vortex swept across the southern United States, hitting Nashville, Tennessee, with a historic ice storm that left over 230,000 households without power and resulted in at least 51 deaths. During the crisis, residents using generators for heat were fined by their HOAs for "ruining aesthetics," highlighting a sharp conflict between bureaucracy and survival rights amidst extreme disaster.

This disaster exposed a deep structural failure in the U.S. power grid. The fragmented system, comprising over 3,000 operators, proved extremely fragile in extreme weather due to a long-term focus on profit over maintenance, aging infrastructure, and a lack of unified coordination. Data shows weather-related outages surged 67% over the past decade. Meanwhile, disaster relief displayed distinct class disparities: wealthy communities had power restored first, while low-income areas remained trapped in distress.

Although U.S. grid modernization faces an investment gap exceeding $1 trillion, political polarization and profit-driven capital have stalled reforms. Experts point out that establishing distributed energy systems and microgrids, rather than relying solely on centralized grids, is key to addressing future climate challenges.

2. Siemens Energy Invests $1 Billion in U.S. Power Manufacturing to Meet AI Electricity Surge

Recently, German industrial giant Siemens Energy announced a $1 billion investment in the U.S. over the next two years, focusing on expanding local manufacturing capacity for grid equipment and gas turbines. This move aims to address the unprecedented growth in electricity demand triggered by the explosion of AI technology.

The investment plan includes building a new high-voltage switchgear factory in Mississippi and expanding existing facilities in five states, including North Carolina and Florida, expected to create approximately 1,500 high-skill jobs. Driven by data centers' need for stable 24/7 power supply, Siemens Energy's gas turbine sales nearly doubled in 2025.

This strategic deployment is intended not only to meet market gaps but also to strengthen supply chain security and avoid potential tariff risks. Concurrently, the company is collaborating with NVIDIA to develop AI digital grid technology. The U.S. has now become Siemens Energy's largest single global market, contributing nearly 30% of its orders.

3. First Batch of Colombia's Francisco Juana PV Project Connects to Grid

Recently, the first 8.26 MW photovoltaic (PV) zone of the Francisco Juana PV Project in Colombia, led by Sinohydro Bureau 4 and jointly implemented with Jiangxi Institute, successfully connected to the grid, achieving the target 28 days ahead of schedule. Located in the northern Caldas Department of Colombia, the project has a total installed capacity of 15.99 MW. It covers the full industry chain process, including R&D, design, supply, construction, and commissioning. Facing challenges such as delays in archaeological permits, supply chain shortages, and complex geological conditions, the project team earned high praise from the owner and local government through precise planning and management.

Upon full completion, the project is expected to provide approximately 22.48 million kWh of clean electricity annually. This will significantly alleviate local power supply pressure, deliver green energy to northern Colombia, and hold significant importance for promoting local economic development and improving people's livelihoods.

Domestic Energy News

1. 2026 Central Document No. 1 Outlines Comprehensive Rural Energy Green Transition

Recently, the 2026 Central Document No. 1 was officially released, explicitly establishing energy security and green transition as key pillars of comprehensive rural revitalization. The document focuses on three core areas: First, upgrading infrastructure by enhancing rural grid supply reliability and carrying capacity, expanding charging facility coverage, and addressing shortcomings to support the adoption of new energy vehicles in rural areas. Second, promoting green transition by relying on initiatives like the "Wind Action for Thousands of Villages," developing distributed wind, solar, and biomass energy according to local conditions, and promoting energy utilization of agricultural waste. Third, deepening industrial integration by empowering county-level economies and new business models through the electrification of agricultural production. Emphasizing coordinated planning and financial support, the document aims to drive the rural energy system from "basic coverage" to "modernization," injecting green momentum into building a strong agricultural nation.

2. NEA: Accelerating Formulation of National Wind and Solar Resource Census Plan

Recently, the National Energy Administration (NEA) held a summary meeting on the pilot census of wind and photovoltaic resources. The meeting heard reports from six pilot regions—Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Tibet, and Qinghai—and fully affirmed their achievements in exploring scientific pathways, mastering core technologies, and training professional teams. The meeting explicitly stated that industry development must utilize census results to achieve three transformations: shifting planning from "empirical estimation" to "scientific decision-making," shifting management from "fragmentation" to "systemic synergy," and shifting philosophy from "scale-oriented" to "value-oriented." Next, the NEA will expedite the formulation of a national wind and solar resource census plan and increase the application of census results. The goal is to accelerate the construction of a new energy system based on solid data foundations, serving the national strategy of becoming an energy power.

3. Jiangsu CPPCC Members Propose Tech Breakthroughs to Tackle PV Overcapacity and Competition

Recently, the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) released a proposal addressing the severe supply-demand mismatch in the photovoltaic (PV) industry. Data shows that global module capacity utilization was only about 52.26% in 2024, with massive idle capacity becoming the core of industry "involution" (intense internal competition). Addressing this dilemma, representatives proposed solutions in three areas: (1) Technological Innovation: Encourage private enterprises to accelerate R&D in next-generation technologies like Perovskite and Heterojunction (HJT), avoiding homogeneous low-efficiency competition through differentiated product matrices; (2) Domestic and International Balance: Domestically, promote the repositioning of PV as a "primary energy source" while optimizing green power trading and UHV transmission; internationally, support enterprises in "going global" to bypass trade barriers; (3) Policy Support: Suggest prioritizing land and energy consumption quotas for innovative enterprises, reducing tax burdens, and encouraging the exploration of new multi-energy supply models like "PV + Hydrogen + Storage."

(Main news sources: CCTVNEWS APP, International Energy Network, China Energy Network, National Energy Administration, China Energy News)