PJM Interconnection back in the spotlight as extreme cold strains the grid and data-center power bets surge; big operator under scrutiny.
A wave of local and state actions is shaping the data-center boom. New rules aim to curb power use, water consumption and cost pressures, while critics warn of overreach and uneven economic impacts.
Regulators are weighing who pays for the surge in data-center demand as AI-powered infrastructure expands. FERC is poised to offer guidance on grid connections, while states pause incentives and tech firms like Google adopt water-efficient cooling to reduce strain on scarce Western resources.