PJM Revised Proposal Escalates Risks for Families and Businesses

PJM issued a revised proposal to accommodate new energy demand from data centers. As PJM warns of possible energy shortages by 2027, its revised plan favors data centers over ratepayers who depend on its grid— all while affordable, reliable clean energy projects remain stuck in PJM’s interconnection queue. The revised proposal shields data centers from paying their fair share while burdening families and businesses across 13 states and D.C. with billions of unfair electricity costs. PJM intends to file a final proposal with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission before the end of the year, which represents a highly abbreviated timeline for public engagement and deliberation.

Vote Solar’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, Elowyn Corby, issued the following statement:

“PJM’s revised proposal is a stunning step backward. This updated proposal doubles down on shielding data centers from paying their fair share, rather than engaging with community concerns around energy affordability and fairness. Instead of giving data centers a pass on accountability, PJM should require that these large new energy users directly contribute to bringing new clean capacity online. Companies reaping the benefits of this energy-intensive infrastructure have a responsibility to help build the clean energy resources that would help keep our grid reliable and affordable for the 76 million people who depend on it. 

“PJM’s mission is to provide reliable electricity at an affordable cost, yet its current proposal sacrifices both affordability and reliability while shoring up profits for some of the world’s largest companies. If PJM continues to prioritize corporate profits over energy affordability and sustainability, it risks locking families and businesses into over $100 billion of unnecessary costs. Our energy system is at an inflection point. We call on PJM to reverse course and act on its responsibility to the public.”