PJM Interconnection Launches Plan for 15 Gigawatts of Power

The PJM Interconnection, the largest regional power grid operator in the United States, launched an emergency plan in April 2026 to secure 15 gigawatts of new electricity generation. The initiative responds to soaring power demands from artificial intelligence data centers in Virginia and Pennsylvania, which have overwhelmed existing capacity and rendered previous growth forecasts obsolete. PJM warns that a potential 60-gigawatt shortfall over the next decade could threaten the reliability of power for 65 million people across 13 states.

The strategy operates in two phases. Starting in September 2026, the first phase will facilitate bilateral contracts between data center developers and power plant builders. In the second phase, PJM will contract for any remaining necessary capacity. The grid operator is targeting new natural gas plants, restarted units, or nuclear upgrades that can be operational by June 2031.

These energy challenges have prompted coordination between White House administrators and state governors regarding generation and cost allocation. Meanwhile, Constellation was informed that transmission upgrades for the Three Mile Island nuclear unit could be delayed until 2031, potentially impacting the timeline for new capacity.