Texas to cut power to data centers in grid emergencies

Jennifer Hiller’s latest article for The Wall Street Journal explores how speculative “phantom” data-center interconnection requests, totaling nearly 400 GW, are impacting the U.S. electric grid. LPPC President Tom Falcone underscores the challenge utilities face in separating genuine demand from projects that may never materialize: “A lot of it is real, but how much?”    LPPC members are preparing for both current needs and future uncertainty, planning 58 GW of new generation and $140 billion in infrastructure investments over the next decade to ensure America’s energy future remains reliable and resilient.   Read more: https://lnkd.in/eew6Y8MR   #PublicPower #DataCenterEnergy #AIEnergy #GridModernization

Sharing this article on impact of super-size data centers on PJM grid, energy affordability, capacity markets, active planning and emerging strategies. No discussion of thermal but insight to PJM planning for load growth. https://lnkd.in/eDPg478q #districtenergyanddatacenters International District Energy Association

As Site Selection Executive Vice President Ron Starner told an audience at the Minnesota Rural Electric Association in August, the requests for large-load power supply today are unprecedented. They come primarily (but not exclusively) from the more than 600 data center projects in the U.S. tracked by Site Selection Magazine's proprietary Conway Projects Database since January 2020. Power is always in the driver’s seat for these investments: JLL said in August that the average wait time for a grid connection in the U.S. has now reached four years. Site Selection’s annual survey this summer asked utility economic development leaders how they are responding. Here are excerpts from responses we received. #electricity #nuclearpower #datacenters #GetInLine https://lnkd.in/gzEfJWeg

📈 ERCOT Grid & Demand Outlook (Update) - ERCOT’s September 2025 outlook shows a 0.30% chance of emergency outages, with 7–9 p.m. the riskiest hours, while battery storage has grown to about 14,137 MW. 🛠️ Status of PUCT / SB 6 Rulemaking & Related Policy - SB 6 is now in effect and implementation is underway. - PUCT must begin reviewing the 4CP transmission cost method by September 18, 2025. - Developers of large loads over 75 MW face new requirements including site control, financial assurance, backup generation disclosure, and study fees. ⚙️ Other Observations & Trends - Engie and Pexapark launched an RFP for hundreds of MW in ERCOT and PJM, showing continued appetite despite regulatory shifts. - ERCOT proposed a new Large Load Interconnection Report to track pending projects, helping identify grid bottlenecks. 💡 What Users / Commercial & Industrial Should Watch / Do - If you are or plan to be a large-load user, track the SB 6 required rules especially around interconnection, cost share, backup power, and potential curtailment. - Expect more scrutiny of site control & financial commitment; get those lined up early to avoid delays. - Keep an eye on the 4CP methodology evaluation—this could shift transmission cost burdens. - Use the growing battery storage and demand-side options strategically—during peak evening hours, batteries or load-shifting could mitigate risk (both cost and reliability).

Christmann: Data Centers Can Strain the Grid North Dakota Public Service Commission Chairman Randy Christmann cautioned lawmakers last week that the growing number of data centers setting up in the state poses significant risks to the electric grid if not carefully managed. https://trst.in/5ajtGZ

The Utility Dive article from former FERC Chairs Rich Glick and Neil Chatterjee points to a critical moment for transmission planning. FERC has made progress by requiring grid-enhancing technologies to be considered, but now it is up to the states to take action. Among these tools, advanced power flow control stands out. By directing how power moves across the network, APFC can relieve congestion and make better use of the transmission lines we already have. This means more generation delivered, lower costs for consumers, and improved reliability, all without waiting years for new lines to be built. As demand from data centers, manufacturing, and new load continues to grow, states have an opportunity to support solutions that deliver impact today while longer-term infrastructure catches up. https://hubs.ly/Q03Dlp0M0

Dominion projects peak power demand for data centers in Virginia could rise to 13.3 gigawatts by 2038, nearly a fivefold increase in 16 years.

This article does a great job of laying out the key barriers that have hindered microgrid adoption. What stood out to me is how closely it mirrors BoxPower’s founding thesis. For nine years, we’ve been building the exact solution this piece calls for — a fully integrated platform that combines proprietary software-enabled design tools, modularized hardware systems, advanced controls software, and turnkey EPCM services. Where I’d push back is on the implicit assumption that software alone can unlock this market. In our experience, the complexity of deploying microgrids at scale requires a blended solution — software to accelerate design and standardization, hardware that’s modular and interoperable, and services to ensure reliable execution and operations. That’s the model BoxPower has pioneered, and it’s why utilities and commercial customers alike are turning to us to make microgrids faster, cheaper, and more reliable to deploy. #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #ClimateTech #Decarbonization #GridModernization #Microgrids #EnergyStorage #UtilityInnovation #DistributedEnergy #Resilience

Today The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced Speed to Power and opened a Request for Information to move near-term grid capacity, transmission and generation, faster. If you develop projects or plan for large loads (artificial intelligence/data centers, advanced manufacturing), this is the time to show what’s truly shovel-ready. What it could mean: Faster lanes for projects that are actually ready to build Clearer expectations around commercial readiness Federal support aimed at congestion and interconnection bottlenecks What we’re watching: Which corridors are prioritized to unlock renewable-rich zones and large-load growth Whether independent system operators and regional transmission organizations introduce readiness screens for big new loads How permitting reform intersects with near-term buildouts Federal tools likely in the mix: DOE Transmission Facilitation Program Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships program DOE Loan Programs Office - Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program Technical assistance from the United States National Laboratories We put together a practical, no-jargon guide- what the U.S. DOE is asking for, how to frame responses, and where these tools can compress timelines: 👉 https://lnkd.in/gYHJZTgN At ZEG, we map near-term capacity and de-risk points of interconnection so teams can move decisively. If you’re weighing sites or large-load interconnections, let’s compare notes. #SpeedToPower #GridModernization #Transmission #Interconnection #DataCenters #AIEnergy #RenewableEnergy #PJM #ERCOT #MISO #SPP #CAISO #ISO-NE #WECC

Insightful commentary from Adam Bell - thanks for that. If the government recognises that cheap firm reliable energy, in the South-East of England is needed to ensure we do not miss the AI revolution, and that this means we need more gas fired power generation, might they not also join the policy dots…. …and conclude that we need to foster and encourage as much as possible of our own domestic gas production. rather than their current approach of imposing what are clearly deliberately punitive tax and regulatory policies which will only serve to kill off domestic production prematurely and mean that this gas will increasingly come from international, non UK sources, when it does not need to be that way Keir Starmer Department for Energy Security and Net Zero HM Treasury Offshore Energies UK Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce