The Department of Energy granted a request from grid operator PJM Interconnection to curtail data centers and other large energy consumers during an unexpected heat wave in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions this week.
The nation’s largest wholesale power market, which serves about 67 million people across 13 states and Washington, issued an emergency warning that power reserves are tight enough to cause concern amid rising temperatures.
“PJM projects peak demands and extreme heat for several straight days, specifically for Maryland and Virginia, presenting stress conditions,” read PJM’s request to FERC on Sunday. “Allowing PJM … to direct data center customers with backup generation facilities to rely on power generated by those facilities” would help the grid operator avoid rolling blackouts.
