Emergency order by US to 'prevent blackouts' could affect data centres
The US Department of Energy has issued an emergency order to try to prevent power cuts amid increasing demand. Monday's order prompted PJM Interconnection , a corporation that transmits electricity in parts of the US, to " direct data centres and other large-load customers to switch to back-up generation resources, if necessary". Data centres in the US are commonly blamed for a surge in…
On Monday, the US Department of Energy issued an emergency order aimed at preventing potential power cuts as demand for electricity continues to rise. In response, PJM Interconnection, a key electricity transmission corporation serving parts of the United States, instructed data centers and other major consumers to utilize backup power generation sources if required.
The order is particularly relevant as data centers have been criticized for contributing to soaring electricity prices, negatively impacting public opinion about artificial intelligence (AI). The Department of Energy also suggested that planned generator outages during autumn maintenance could exacerbate potential blackouts. PJM has issued a Maximum Generation Alert and Load Management Alert for October 13, anticipating tight system conditions due to unusually warm autumn weather and mandatory maintenance or construction-related outages.
The emergency order will remain in effect until October 16. Energy Secretary Chris Wright expressed confidence in his decision to issue the emergency measures, noting that the goal is to ensure millions of American families and businesses in the mid-Atlantic region have access to affordable, reliable, and secure electricity by making additional power generation, including backup power, available as needed.
The Department of Energy reported that there are 35 GW of unused backup generation available nationwide. The alerts come ahead of the US midterm elections, highlighting energy policy, AI, and data centers as crucial issues. Any blackouts or inefficiencies in addressing these challenges could exacerbate tensions between residents and utility companies, as well as tech firms developing AI technologies.
President Donald Trump has recently dismissed critics of AI, labeling their concerns as "hoaxes," but previously signed a non-binding pledge in February encouraging data center companies to provide their own electricity to alleviate pressure on the grid. Meanwhile, the Department of Energy has advocated for the construction of more nuclear reactors to address the increasing energy demands of AI.
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