As data centers across the U.S. fuel record-high electricity demand, Audubon’s PJM Interconnection is racing to modernize how new energy projects connect to its system, writes Rambo Talabong for Inside Climate News.
The regional grid operator, which manages power for 13 states across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, has introduced a proposal known as the Critical Issue Fast Path. It’s a rule-making shortcut designed to streamline PJM’s traditionally slow review process for new suppliers seeking grid access.
Among the proposed changes is a fast-track interconnection queue that could allow a select group of major energy projects to connect to the grid within months instead of years. This move could help ease grid congestion and support growing data center demand.
However, energy experts caution that the criteria may give preference to natural gas plants, potentially extending fossil fuel reliance as states push for decarbonization.
PJM plans to submit its findings and request to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in December for review and approval.
To learn more about Audubon’s PJM and their proposal and its potential impact on regional energy policy, visit Inside Climate News.
