PJM’s data center power plan receives mixed reviews
PJM Interconnection’s proposed plan for managing the rising electricity demand from data centers and other large loads has drawn mixed responses before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Lawmakers support parts of the plan, while the Data Center Coalition and Google argue it could undermine state authority and discourage investment in new generation capacity.
PJM Interconnection has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve an Interim Resource Adequacy Service and a registry for large electricity users, including data centers consuming at least 50 megawatts. The proposal is intended to track demand growth and enable curtailment of large loads during severe grid emergencies.
Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., the ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, supports portions of the plan but said data centers should bear more responsibility for the generation and capacity costs they create. The Data Center Coalition opposed the proposal, arguing that it would improperly limit states’ authority and could force customers in areas with new data centers to subsidize others.
Google also criticized the plan, saying it could worsen capacity shortages by discouraging companies from developing their own generation. PJM defended IRAS as a region-wide response necessary to preserve reliability and affordability while respecting the authority of the 13 PJM states and the District of Columbia.