Heat wave, data centers’ huge power demand push regional power grid to the brink
Record-high temperatures pushed the Mid-Atlantic electrical grid, managed by PJM, to near capacity due to high air conditioning and data center demand. Despite warnings and an emergency order from the U.S. Department of Energy, data centers were not ordered to disconnect from the grid and rely on their diesel generators. The City of Manassas ran its diesel generators to help reduce demand on the regional system.
The Mid-Atlantic's electrical grid, operated by PJM, reached near-record demand levels on Thursday due to soaring temperatures and the significant power consumption of data centers across 13 states. Although PJM's emergency procedures dashboard showed numerous alerts, data centers in the region, including those in Prince William and Loudoun counties, were ultimately not required to disconnect from the grid, which would have forced them to rely on their diesel backup generators.
PJM had anticipated a new record for power demand, but the peak demand of 162,569 megawatts on Thursday, July 2, came close to but did not surpass the all-time record set in 2006. A "Transmission Security - Emergency Use of Back-Up Generator Warning" was issued, indicating that utility companies like Dominion Energy should prepare to cut data centers from the grid, though this action was not ultimately taken, according to PJM spokesman Daniel Lockwood.
The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order on June 30, authorizing PJM to take necessary steps, including directing data centers to use their generators, to prevent rolling blackouts. In response to PJM's call for "maximum generation," the City of Manassas operated its 31 diesel generators from 1:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, to reduce demand on the regional grid, as explained by Assistant City Manager Ana Davis.
Local residents and advocacy groups, such as the Coalition to Protect Prince William County, expressed concerns about the strain on the grid and the potential environmental impact of data centers switching to diesel power. Elena Schlossberg, executive director of the Coalition, voiced fears of either blackouts or increased air pollution from diesel particulates.