Illustration by Tag Hartman-Simkins/Futurism. Source: Getty Images
AI data centers on the East Coast are getting so much juice that nonprofit grid operator PJM may be forced to enforce blackouts on its customers during both heat waves and exceptionally cold weather to protect the integrity of the grid.
These blackouts will affect 67 million people in 13 states, according to wall street journalWhich will undoubtedly further anger residential customers and politicians already deeply rooted About the large-scale construction of AI data centers.
“They’re across the board when it comes to increasing electricity demand,” said John Quigley, a senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. told cnbc Last November about power-hungry data centers. “It’s going to get worse.”
Grid operator PJM expects electricity demand to grow an average of 4.8 percent per year over the next 10 years. WSJLargely inspired by the construction and operation of these data centers, many of which are located in Northern Virginia’s “Data Center Alley”, that is 153 facilities Alone in the city of Asburn.
Consulting firm ICF International Estimate In a report marked by WSJ America’s electricity demand will increase by 25 percent by 2030 compared to 2023 and by 78 percent by 2050.
The problem for PJM is that new power plants are not replacing old ones fast enough. Additionally, tech companies last year withdrew a proposal to voluntarily shut down power or seek power elsewhere when demand was highest.
This seems unfair to residential customers who will bear the physical and emotional brunt of a blackout – because after all, no one is living inside these data center facilities. Rising energy prices have already become political hot potatoes between energy customersFrom from arizona to mainewho have also opposed the centers excessive use of water and for causing local pollution.
PJM is now putting together another proposal to balance energy needs during peak demand, but it still needs to be passed with tech companies, power producers, utilities and other stakeholders. Until this is fully resolved, PJM customers should expect occasional blackouts.
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