Big Tech's data centers may face grid cutoffs during power crises
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High-voltage transmission lines provide electricity to data centers in Ashburn in Loudon County, Virginia, on Sunday, July 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File) Construction continues at Entergy’s Orange County Advanced Power Station, a 1,215-megawatt facility, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Orange, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — With the explosive growth of Big Tech’s data centers threatening to overload U.S.
AI Summary
Main Idea: U.S. grid operators, led by PJM Interconnection and the Southwest Power Pool, are considering rules that could cut off big data centers during power emergencies as electricity demand from AI and cloud computing keeps rising.
Key Points:
- Texas has already passed a law aimed at limiting large power users, including data centers, during extreme grid stress to help prevent blackouts.
- PJM, which runs the mid-Atlantic grid, has proposed a plan that could leave new data centers without guaranteed power during emergencies.
- The Data Center Coalition says any rules should be flexible and should reward data centers that voluntarily reduce use or switch to backup power.
- Critics say the changes may not lower bills enough and could instead push data centers to build their own power sources or create too much risk for investors.
Impact on the People
Negative Impact
Power cutoffs for data centers may help avoid blackouts,. Households and small businesses could still face higher bills and some uncertainty about local power reliability.
Positive Impact
No clear positive impact identified.
How did each entity affect people?
Rate how each entity in this article affected the American people.
- Primary:PJM Interconnectiongovernment agency or body
- Major:Data Center Coalitionunion / trade association
- Major:Southwest Power Poolgovernment agency or body
Candidate Entities11 candidates · 5 weighted vote min · 70% decision
- PJM Interconnectiongovernment agency or bodyPrimaryEvaluated
Major grid operator proposing a new approach that would leave proposed data centers without guaranteed electricity during power.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Data Center Coalitionunion / trade associationMajorEvaluated
Trade group representing Big Tech and data center developers, pushing for flexible standards and financial rewards for voluntary.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Southwest Power Poolgovernment agency or bodyMajorEvaluated
Major grid operator whose chief said it will expand power-reduction programs for large users to meet rising demand.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - GooglecompanyMajorAI selected
Major tech company in the story, including a proposed data center contract in Indiana to reduce electricity use.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Indiana & Michigan PowercompanyMajorAI selected
Utility that filed a power-supply contract with Indiana regulators for the Google data center.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - AmazoncompanyContextCandidate
One of the Big Tech companies implicated in the data-center demand surge and likely affected by the grid-cutoff.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Meta PlatformscompanyContextCandidate
One of the Big Tech companies implicated in the data-center demand surge and likely affected by the grid-cutoff.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold
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