Joseph Bowring

Stories

FERC forces PJM to rewrite the rules for power-hungry, power-adjacent data centers

Warning that co-location can worsen resource adequacy if it pulls supply off-system

Data centers found a shortcut: park next to a generator and drink power without waiting years for grid upgrades. In December 2025, FERC ordered PJM to rewrite its tariff so co-located mega-load can't stay invisible to planning and cost responsibility. In June 2026, FERC expanded the push, ordering six grid operators to justify or overhaul how they connect AI data centers.

Updated Oct 16