AI Power Demand Surges as Largest U.S. Grid Operator PJM Seeks 15 GW to Fill Shortfall

PJM Interconnection coordinates wholesale power markets and transmission systems across 13 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., making it the country’s largest regional grid operator. As AI computing and data centers continue to expand, electricity demand could grow faster than new power plants can connect to the grid. The resulting supply-demand imbalance has emerged as a reliability risk for the next decade.

PJM recently proposed an emergency power expansion plan to bring in about 15 GW, equivalent to 15 million kilowatts, of new generating capacity to fill an anticipated supply shortfall. The plan would use a supply-demand matching mechanism and long- and short-term contracts to accelerate the addition of power supplies. As of the latest report, PJM had not formally announced a launch date, procurement cost or breakdown by energy source.