US EditionUS power grids face rising winter blackout risks as data centers surge, report warns
NERC reports 10 of 16 U.S. grids face elevated or high risks of winter power shortfalls due to rapid data center growth outpacing resource additions, raising blackout concerns.
- A Saturday report from the energy watchdog says the rapid growth of energy-intensive data centers could increase winter shortfall risks across 10 of the nation's 16 electricity grids.
- NERC found bulk power system capacity fell short this year due to delays connecting new resources and unanticipated retirements, with fossil-fueled generators declining 21 GW and battery, wind and solar resources increasing 23 GW, while confirmed retirements over the next 10 years total over 105 GW.
- PJM's seven-day forecast expected a peak of about 141 GW on Friday, close to its seasonal record, while MISO, serving 45 million people, is projected to be in the red by 2028.
- An uncontrolled grid loss could cause cascading blackouts, while the U.S. Department of Energy urged data center operators to use back-up generators and utilities planning retirements to keep plants online.
- Longer-Term forecasts indicate NERC predicts winter demand growth of 246 GW over the next decade, stressing planning and resource adequacy challenges, with PJM's 2029 margin outlook highlighting risks.
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US power grids face rising winter blackout risks as data centers surge, report warns
U.S. power grids face rising risks of winter energy shortages as data center growth outpaces capacity, warns a watchdog report, jeopardizing millions nationwide.
U.S. power grid under strain as Arctic blast sparks record winter demand; emergency orders issued amid blackout fears
PJM Interconnection, serving 67 million people, warns of potential overloads as electricity demand could exceed 147 GW—surpassing last winter’s record. The surge is driven by extreme cold, residential heating and skyrocketing data center power consumption. The U.S. Department of Energy invoked emergency orders (Section 202(c)) to suspend air quality restrictions, allowing generators to operate at […]
New NERC Grid Risk Assessment for 2026: Breaking Down the Challenges Ahead
Given the impact of AI and Data Center demand on a previously flat growth market, we need to examine the overallocation of resources to integrate wind, solar, and storage into a grid system not designed for intermittent power sources. Consumers in Blue states pay an average of 38% more for energy, and it is not just wind, solar, and storage; it is also the regulatory burden and program pricing. Consumers should be aware that the NERC report says…
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