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[TECHNOLOGY] · United States · 3 sources

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Part of situation: AI data center expansion faces rising opposition and costs (216 clusters)

US Power Grids Strained by Record Heatwaves and Growing AI Data Center Demand

US power grid heatwave AI data centers emergency alerts PJM record demand

Back‑to‑back heatwaves across the United States have pushed temperatures above 100 °F, prompting millions of homes and businesses to run air‑conditioning at full capacity. At the same time, the rapid expansion of AI‑powered data centres is adding round‑the‑clock electricity demand, testing an aging grid originally built for far lower and steadier loads.

Regional transmission operators have issued multiple emergency alerts. PJM Interconnection recorded a historic 168 GW demand on July 2, the highest in nearly two decades, and asked the U.S. Department of Energy for permission for data centres to use backup generators. MISO and Southwest Power Pool activated emergency measures, with SPP obtaining federal approval to maximise generation across seven western states. Researchers are also developing a new forecasting model to better predict grid performance during extreme weather, addressing errors missed by conventional forecasts.

Entities

AI data centers · Data Center Alley (Northern Virginia) · Midcontinent Independent System Operator · PJM Interconnection · Southwest Power Pool · U.S. Department of Energy

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

  • [○ 1 SOURCE] PJM requested permission from the U.S. Department of Energy to allow data centers to operate backup generators during peak demand. sigmaearth.com
  • [● 2 SOURCES] Back-to-back heatwaves with temperatures exceeding 100 °F have occurred across the United States. financialpost.com · sigmaearth.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Researchers are developing a new model to predict grid performance errors caused by extreme weather that ordinary forecasts miss. energiesmedia.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Southwest Power Pool received federal approval to maximize electricity generation across Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico and Nebraska. sigmaearth.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and Southwest Power Pool (SPP) activated emergency measures covering parts of the Midwest and western United States. sigmaearth.com
  • [● 2 SOURCES] Aging power infrastructure is approaching its limits due to combined heatwave and AI demand pressures. financialpost.com · sigmaearth.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] PJM Interconnection recorded a historic 168 GW electricity demand on July 2, surpassing a record that stood for nearly two decades. sigmaearth.com
  • [● 2 SOURCES] The surge in electricity demand is driven by AI‑powered data centers that require continuous power. financialpost.com · sigmaearth.com

Sources

US Electricity Grids Face Growing Stress From Heatwaves And AI Expansion - Sigma Earth [sigmaearth.com]
about 2 months ago
Power Grids Reach Tipping Point as 100F Weather, US Data Center Boom Stress Aging Networks [financialpost.com]
about 2 months ago
When extreme weather hits, power grids lose both energy and forecasting accuracy at once, and a new model is learning to prepare for the errors ordinary forecasts miss [energiesmedia.com]
about 2 months ago