- Data center demand is causing retail rates to rise and drawing power from aging coal plants across multiple states.
- Data center expansion in the region is driving up power needs and causing price surges in the largest U.S. power market.
- Energy-hungry data centers are straining the PJM grid, causing capacity prices to soar, leading PJM to develop a procurement strategy for shortfalls.
Grid operator experienced major outages, a company expanded capacity for gas turbines, and the Bureau of Land Management is preparing a lease sale.
1 report, 1 independent
Updated Aug 25
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What happened
Grid operator experienced major outages, a company expanded capacity for gas turbines, and the Bureau of Land Management is preparing a lease sale.
Who's involved
What this event is mainly aboutKeep exploring
Part of
Energy-hungry data centers are straining the PJM grid, causing capacity prices to soar, leading PJM to develop a procurement strategy for shortfalls.Also in this story
- Hyperscale facilities relied on the bulk power system, which experienced a transmission line fault leading to a 3 GW load drop.
- Major tech companies pledged to protect consumers from price hikes related to data center operations within the PJM footprint in the District of Columbia.
- Emergency orders invoke Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act as rapidly increasing load from data centers strains the PJM grid.
The entities involved
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PJM Interconnection
US regional transmission organization
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Northern Virginia
geographic region of Virginia, United States
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New Mexico
state of the United States of America
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Utah
state of the United States of America
Related events
- PJM Interconnection requires authorization from the Department of Energy regarding backup generators needed for data centers located in Northern Virginia.
- Power plant acquisitions are underway in both Colorado and New York, while data center failures are being reported in Northern Virginia.
- Utility companies are restoring power and repairing storm damage across Michigan and Pennsylvania.