Federal regulators back Trump's plan to speed power to energy-hungry AI data centers
The order also shifts upgrade costs to data centers as operators face delays and a grid backlog that has slowed new projects for years.
- On Thursday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission voted unanimously to direct six regional grid operators to ensure AI data centers can connect to the transmission system in a "timely and orderly manner," affecting 200 million Americans.
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright urged the commission to act to help the United States "better compete with China" for AI superiority, as electricity demand from data centers could triple by 2035.
- Under the order, data centers must fund all grid upgrades, fulfilling commitments tech companies made under the Ratepayer Protection Pledge to protect ratepayers from shouldering infrastructure costs.
- Grid operators have 60 days to "defend or revise" electricity rates, while lawyer Robert Montejo noted that AI "has fundamentally changed the electricity landscape," signaling standing still is no longer an option.
- A J.P. Morgan report found over 60% of data center capacity planned for 2027 has not yet begun construction, as developers face widespread community opposition over rising bills and resource strain.
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59 Articles
Regulators greenlight plan for quick AI data center grid connections
Federal regulators on Thursday took steps aimed at both speeding up the buildout of AI data centers and reducing costs. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) directed regional electric grid operators to reform various processes related to the connection of these and other large sources of power demand to the grid. “We are charting new...
US acts to accelerate power grid hook-ups for AI data centers
U.S. regulators have taken their biggest step yet to speed the connection of data centers to the country’s grids while simultaneously attempting to slow surging utility bills that have angered Americans.
Regulators back plan to fast-track grid access for data centers
Federal regulators on Thursday agreed to let large energy users connect more quickly to the nation’s inefficient and aging electric transmission system to accommodate surging demand from power-hungry artificial intelligence data centers. Energy Secretary Chris Wright had urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to act in an effort to help the U.S. better compete with China for superiority in the fast-growing AI sector. Tech companies and d…
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