Grid operator warns of 6,800 MW shortfall as data center growth outpaces new power
PJM Interconnection, the operator for the electric grid serving Richmond and much of Virginia, warns of a potential 6,831-megawatt electricity shortfall by 2028-29. This anticipated deficit is driven by the rapid growth of data centers and industrial demand, which is outpacing the development of new power generation capacity in the region.
PJM Interconnection, the entity responsible for managing the electric grid across Richmond and a significant portion of Virginia, has issued a stark warning regarding the region's future power supply. According to their projections, the grid is on course to experience a deficit of 6,831 megawatts by the 2028-29 timeframe.
This impending shortfall is primarily attributed to the surging electricity demand from new data centers and general industrial growth. The rate at which these sectors are expanding and requiring power is currently outpacing the development and integration of new power generation sources, raising concerns about the grid's capacity to meet future needs within the next two to three years.