US Energy Secretary Directs Mid-Atlantic Data Centers to Use Backup Power Amid Heatwave and Grid Strain
A severe heatwave is straining electricity grids across the eastern US, particularly the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, leading to power outages and increased demand. To manage the strain, Energy Secretary Chris Wright directed data centers in the PJM service region, which includes the significant data center cluster in Virginia, to use their backup power supplies. This measure aims to conserve public grid electricity for residential air conditioning and alleviate pressure on utilities like Con Edison.
A deadly, multiday heatwave has gripped the eastern United States, shattering temperature records in over a dozen locations across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, including Washington, DC, which hit 102 degrees. The extreme heat has led to a 68-year-old man's death in Bethel Township, Pennsylvania, due to heat exhaustion, and the CDC has reported "extremely high rates of heat-related illness" across the region.
The heatwave has also caused widespread disruptions, including the cancellation of Fourth of July parades in Washington, DC, and Philadelphia, and delays for other public events. Thousands of customers in the New York metro area experienced power outages and voltage reductions, prompting Con Edison spokesperson Jamie McShane to state that demand for electricity, primarily for air conditioning, is straining the system. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to conserve electricity by setting AC units to 78 degrees and unplugging appliances.
Critically, Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued a directive for data centers and other large electricity customers served by PJM, the country's largest electrical grid operator, to utilize their backup power supplies. This order aims to reduce reliance on the public grid and ensure sufficient electricity for residential air conditioning during the surge in demand. The article highlights that the PJM region, which covers 13 states, is home to the world's largest cluster of data centers in Virginia, whose energy consumption has contributed to price spikes in recent years. Scientific analysis from World Weather Attribution attributes the intensity of the heat and humidity to "virtually impossible" conditions without the effects of fossil fuel pollution.
In response to the dangerous conditions, cities including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Raleigh, North Carolina, have activated extreme heat alerts, opened cooling centers, and expanded public resources. Amtrak also canceled at least 26 trains in the Northeast due to "temperature-related conditions."