Audubon’s PJM Interconnection sits dead center in the nation’s push for AI-powering data centers, writes The Wall Street Journal.
PJM manages the nation’s largest power grid, serving about 67 million people across 13 states. But soaring electricity demand from AI data centers is straining the system, driving up consumer rates and raising concerns about grid reliability during extreme heat or cold.
PJM forecasts electricity demand to grow nearly 5% annually over the next decade, a dramatic shift for a grid that saw little growth for years. At the same time, older coal, gas, and nuclear plants are retiring faster than new generation can come online, tightening supply. The result: rising prices and the growing risk of emergency measures like demand reductions or, in worst cases, rolling blackouts.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has already pushed federal regulators to curb price spikes, while PJM itself faces leadership transition following the departure of longtime CEO Manu Asthana. The nonprofit’s board says solutions exist, but acknowledges they are complex and politically charged, especially as states pursue differing energy policies.
For Montco residents, the stakes are local and immediate. PJM’s decisions in Audubon ripple directly into household utility bills and regional economic stability as AI reshapes the power landscape.
To learn more about PJM’s role in the national energy debate, visit The Wall Street Journal.
