Sep 25, 2026 · 30 min · 9 segments
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Julie GrantReid Fraser
Carol HolzapfelHost
Sophia Schmidt
Pennsylvania utility regulators say unchecked data center growth could threaten the reliability of the regional grid within the next five years.
A report released by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Monday predicts that electricity demand on the regional grid could roughly double by 2040, almost entirely due to data centers.
The report's authors say the skyrocketing demand could raise the risk of blackouts.
And in a worst case scenario, it could cause on average 13 blackouts per year.
Abe Silverman is an energy consultant and research scholar at Johns Hopkins University.
It's a case where we don't fix our siting and permitting problems, we don't fix our supply chain problems, and we just keep blindly signing up new data centers without requiring them to bring their own new capacity as part of the deal.
A spokesperson for PJM Interconnection says the regional grid operator has been taking action to increase electricity supply and manage new demand.
Pennsylvania utility regulators say unchecked data center growth could threaten the reliability of the regional grid within the next five years.
A report released by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Monday predicts that electricity demand on the regional grid could roughly double by 2040, almost entirely due to data centers.
The report's authors say the skyrocketing demand could raise the risk of blackouts.
And in a worst case scenario, it could cause on average 13 blackouts per year.
Abe Silverman is an energy consultant and research scholar at Johns Hopkins University.
It's a case where we don't fix our siting and permitting problems, we don't fix our supply chain problems, and we just keep blindly signing up new data centers without requiring them to bring their own new capacity as part of the deal.
A spokesperson for PJM Interconnection says the regional grid operator has been taking action to increase electricity supply and manage new demand.
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