The largest U.S. regional electric grid is pushing back on data center policy demands from a rare bipartisan coalition of governors and the White House, as the tension between artificial intelligence and the rising cost of electricity escalates.
At midday Friday, the coalition issued a manifesto insisting that PJM Interconnection restrain rising power prices fueled by the race to build AI data centers in its 13-state territory, extending from the Atlantic coast to Illinois.
The “statement of principles” issued at a White House-hosted briefing was signed by the governors of all PJM states, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. It called on PJM to broker long-term electricity supply contracts between data center developers and generators, to continue price caps on future incentive payments to generators that pledge to keep operating, and take other consumer protection actions.
“We have a united front standing here today demanding immediate reform,” Burgum said.
