White House Proposes Emergency Power Auction for New Plants Amid AI Boom
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 16 2026
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Power Auction Initiative: The White House is expected to issue a directive on Friday mandating PJM Interconnection to hold a power auction, allowing tech companies to bid on 15-year contracts for new power plants, aimed at alleviating grid pressure from AI data centers.
- Grid Operator's Role: As the largest grid operator in the U.S., PJM will facilitate this auction across 13 states, responding to calls from the National Energy Dominance Council and several governors to enhance energy supply and curb price hikes.
- Policy Context: A White House spokeswoman stated that ensuring reliable and affordable electricity for Americans is a top priority for President Trump, and this initiative will provide much-needed long-term relief to the mid-Atlantic region.
- Market Impact: With increasing demand from data centers, power producers like Vistra, Constellation Energy, and NRG Energy have profited, and this policy is expected to further drive dynamics in the electricity market.
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Analyst Views on CEG
Wall Street analysts forecast CEG stock price to rise
7 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 276.120
Low
350.00
Averages
414.86
High
460.00
Current: 276.120
Low
350.00
Averages
414.86
High
460.00
About CEG
Constellation Energy Corporation is a producer of emissions-free energy and an energy supplier to businesses, homes and public sector customers nationwide. The Company’s nuclear, hydro, wind, and solar generation facilities have the generating capacity to power the equivalent of 16 million homes, providing about 10% of the nation's clean energy in the United States. Its segments include Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, New York, ERCOT, and Other Power Regions. Through its integrated business operations, it sells electricity, natural gas, and other energy-related products and sustainable solutions to various types of customers, including distribution utilities, municipalities, cooperatives, and commercial, industrial, public sector, and residential customers in markets across multiple geographic regions. Its nuclear fleet has a generating capacity of approximately 22 gigawatts (GWs). It operates approximately 10 GWs of natural gas, oil, hydroelectric, wind, and solar generation assets.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Rising Electricity Prices: With electricity prices spiking 6.9% year-over-year in 2025, public anxiety about the economy is increasing, as Navarro attempts to blame former President Biden, indicating the current administration's challenges in addressing inflation.
- Policy Response Measures: The Trump administration has signed a pact with several states urging major tech companies to finance $15 billion for new power plants to alleviate the strain data centers place on the grid, demonstrating proactive government intervention in energy policy.
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- Positive Buyback Policy: Vistra has completed $5.6 billion in share repurchases since 2021 and recently authorized another $1 billion, demonstrating confidence in future growth, although its higher volatility, with a beta of 1.44, requires investors to weigh risks against potential rewards.
See More
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- Cost Internalization for Data Centers: White House trade advisor Peter Navarro stated that data center builders must absorb costs related to electricity and water usage, highlighting the government's concern over economic pressures that could impact companies like Meta.
- Rising Electricity Prices: With electricity prices spiking 6.9% year-over-year in 2025, public anxiety about the economy is increasing, as Navarro attempts to blame former President Biden, indicating the current administration's challenges in addressing inflation.
- Policy Response Measures: The Trump administration has signed a pact with several states urging major tech companies to finance $15 billion for new power plants to alleviate the strain data centers place on the grid, demonstrating proactive government intervention in energy policy.
- Election Outlook Impact: As the November 2026 midterms approach, polls show Democrats leading by 5.2 points, reflecting voter concerns over economic issues that could affect Trump's and the Republican Party's electoral prospects.
See More
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- Increased Market Volatility: Last week, stocks in software, real estate, financial services, and logistics faced selling pressure due to concerns over AI-related disruptions, with the Nasdaq Composite falling 0.2% and a weekly loss of 2.1%, indicating market sensitivity to AI impacts.
- Consumer Spending Data Focus: This week's highlight will be the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report on Friday, which will provide insights into consumer spending in December and inflation trends, especially following last week's unexpected slowdown in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
- Corporate Earnings in Spotlight: Walmart (WMT) is set to release its fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday, marking the first report under new CEO John Furner, making it a key indicator of consumer spending that the market is eagerly anticipating.
- Ongoing AI Impact: As AI tools' potential effects intensify across various sectors, software stocks like Salesforce (CRM) and ServiceNow (NOW) have seen significant declines, reflecting the market's heightened vigilance regarding AI disruptions, necessitating close monitoring of future industry developments.
See More
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- Top Gainer: Datadog, Inc. (DDOG) surged 12.10% this week, primarily driven by strong earnings results, indicating its sustained growth potential in the cloud monitoring market, which may attract more investor interest.
- Telecom Sector Performance: T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) rose 11.20%, reflecting market optimism regarding its user growth and revenue outlook, further solidifying its position in the competitive telecom landscape.
- Energy Stock Recovery: Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) increased by 10.33%, benefiting from ongoing market interest in renewable energy investments, showcasing its strategic advantage in the green energy transition.
- Top Loser: Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH) fell 13.66% this week, reflecting market disappointment with its performance, which may lead investors to reassess its future growth prospects.
See More
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- AI-Driven Nuclear Contracts: Constellation Energy is at the forefront of the AI-driven power boom as Big Tech secures long-term nuclear energy contracts, highlighting its pivotal role in the future energy market.
- Increased Federal Support: Growing federal support for nuclear energy is driving a surge in demand, creating a favorable market environment for Constellation Energy to capitalize on.
- Investment Opportunity Emerges: Despite a recent pullback in stock prices, this may present a compelling long-term entry point for patient investors, particularly against the backdrop of rising nuclear energy demand.
- Market Price Reference: As of February 6, 2026, Constellation Energy's stock price showed a +2.17% increase, reflecting market recognition of its future growth potential.
See More
Emerging Opportunities in Utility Stocks
- Stability and Cash Flow: Constellation Energy, the largest producer of carbon-free electricity in the U.S., reported a net income of $930 million last year, despite a year-over-year decline; however, its adjusted operating earnings improved from $860 million to $952 million, showcasing its steady cash flow and diversified energy portfolio.
- Price Volatility and Growth Potential: Vistra exhibits higher volatility with a beta of 1.44, and although its stock has slightly declined year-to-date, it trades at a reasonable forward P/E ratio of 15.5, indicating market optimism about its growth prospects, particularly due to its long-term nuclear agreement with Meta.
- Positive Signal from Buyback Policy: Vistra has completed $5.6 billion in share repurchases since 2021 and recently authorized an additional $1 billion, which is viewed as a bullish signal for long-term investors, reflecting the company's confidence in future growth.
- Diverse Investment Choices: Investors should choose stocks based on personal goals, with Constellation Energy being ideal for those seeking stability and cash flow, while Vistra may appeal to those willing to endure volatility for additional growth potential.
See More
Constellation Energy and Vistra: A Comparative Analysis
- Market Performance Decline: As of February 9, 2026, Constellation Energy's stock has fallen over 23%, reflecting market concerns about its profitability, although it still offers stable cash flow and a $1.55 annual dividend per share, making it attractive for income investors.
- Profitability Fluctuations: Constellation's adjusted operating earnings improved from $860 million in Q3 2024 to $952 million in 2025, despite a net income of $930 million, which decreased from the previous year, indicating that the company still needs to enhance operational efficiency to improve profitability metrics.
- Vistra's Diversification Advantage: Vistra's flexibility in the electricity market is evident in its diversified asset portfolio, including natural gas, nuclear, and renewable energy, while its long-term nuclear agreement with Meta has garnered investor interest, even though its stock has slightly declined year-to-date.
- Positive Buyback Policy: Vistra has completed $5.6 billion in share repurchases since 2021 and recently authorized another $1 billion, demonstrating confidence in future growth, although its higher volatility, with a beta of 1.44, requires investors to weigh risks against potential rewards.
See More
