Nation’s Largest Grid Operator Warns Drastic Measures Required As Data Centers Come Online

[rangerrebew]

Nation’s Largest Grid Operator Warns Drastic Measures Required As Data Centers Come Online
US-TECHNOLOGY-AI-DATA CENTER
 
The largest U.S. grid operator proposed cutting power to newcomers during periods of high demand in a Wednesday white paper.

PJM Interconnection serves over 67 million consumers across its operational area. Its infrastructure is now strained by data center expansion and disruptive environmental policy, according to the operator’s “Powering Reliability Through Market Design” document. (RELATED: Voters Oust Half Of Missouri City Council For Greenlighting $6 Billion AI Data Center)

“Unprecedented surge in demand driven by the rapid expansion of large-load data centers and broader economy-wide electrification,” is noted by PJM as one of the the three drivers of grid strain, alongside “the accelerated retirement of dispatchable generation due to environmental policy and economics; and significant supply chain and permitting frictions that have extended the time required to bring new resources online.”

 Data centers are the primary drivers of rising electricity consumption, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The EIA expects electricity demand to grow by 1% in 2026 and 3% in 2023, potentially outpacing new energy supply.

https://dailycaller.com/2026/05/08/pjm-largest-grid-operator-data-centers-permitting-reform/

[DefiantMassRINO]

Shudder nuclear, coal, and natural gas power generation plants, and replace them with solar panels and wind turbines - what's the worst that could happen?

Data centers can be built anywhere, preferably as close to energy supplies as possible.

Why bother building data centers in the US, with all its pesky over-regulation?  Guyana, with its large energy reserves, woudl be just as good.

[Free Vulcan]

The problem is that most state utilities boards generally just bend over and let the corporates have at it while leaving the household consumers last in line.

I see this if not checked leading to rationing.

[Bigun]

There is no reason why the world cannot have cheap, safe, and near limitless, electrical power!