PJM Interconnection reviews 201 GW of power projects amid rising demand

PJM Interconnection has accepted 715 proposed power projects totaling 201.5 gigawatts into the first cycle of its updated interconnection process. This move follows a shift to a ‘first-ready, first-served’ system designed to ensure project viability through financial commitments and site control. The proposed capacity includes 99.8 GW from natural gas, 60 GW from battery storage, 17.3 GW from nuclear, and various amounts from solar, wind, and other sources. This influx of potential supply comes as PJM forecasts electricity demand could rise by up to 70 GW by 2038, driven largely by data centers.

Simultaneously, PJM is evaluating new requirements for large computational loads following a significant grid event in Northern Virginia. A transmission line failure caused nearly 3.8 GW of data center demand to suddenly transfer to onsite generation. This massive, rapid reduction in demand forced operators to quickly adjust generation to maintain voltage and frequency stability. The event has prompted experts to suggest that grid planners must now account for how large loads behave during system disturbances, rather than treating them as static demand.