Pa. and N.J. want data centers to guarantee their own power supply

Four US governors have proposed a joint plan with the Data Center Coalition, an industry group, that favors approving connections for data centers if they guarantee their own power supply. The plan aims to expedite permitting and siting for data operations, allowing tech firms like Amazon Web Services, Google, Microsoft, and Meta to build new facilities without delay.

The proposal, which has garnered interest due to the governors' critical stance on PJM's operations but desire for data center expansion in their states, offers a fast-track approval process for both the data centers and the power sources they would build. This could bolster PJM's reliability and potentially boost reliance by new data centers on natural gas.

The idea was raised during a hearing held by PJM, which is grappling with soaring demands and seeking federal approval later this year to hasten permit reviews. The proposal outlines an eight-page plan that relies on states to expedite permitting and siting for the data operations.

Data centers require around-the-clock electricity and brief dips can cost millions in revenue. The fast-track proposal aims to accommodate lucrative investment from tech firms, while also shielding consumers from price spikes as data centers come online. A measure proposed by the DCC would extend or maintain the current capacity charge set by PJM for another year, which could shield customers from price spikes.

However, some analysts have raised concerns about how states will review and decide to fast-track projects. Paul Sotkiewicz, a former chief economist for PJM, warned that short-circuiting processes could backfire on politicians if not done properly.

The proposal has sparked debate over who should lose power when the grid is stressed, with some arguing that data centers should be interrupted first or last. Monitoring Analytics president Joseph Bowring emphasized that the grid cannot reliably serve its customer base and urged PJM to prioritize continuity of service.

The plan from DCC and the governors is one of several proposals being considered by PJM as it seeks public comment on a rule change aimed at adding suppliers to the grid. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will decide whether the change is lawful and in the public interest, with a written request planned for submission in December.
 
I'm still wondering if prioritizing data centers over consumers is really what we want πŸ€”. I mean, they do need power, but shouldn't PJM focus on maintaining reliability for everyone? It seems like some people are willing to put profits before people's needs... πŸ’Έ

And what about the long-term effects of relying more on natural gas? Isn't that a concern for the environment too? 🌿 I know some states are trying to boost their economies, but let's not forget about our planet's future either... 🌎
 
I'm literally so done with these tech giants thinking they can just swoop in and expect everything to be smooth sailin' πŸš’πŸ˜’ like Amazon Web Services, Google, Microsoft, and Meta are just gonna magically solve PJM's issues without anyone even blinkin'. Newsflash: it's not that simple! πŸ’” They want a fast-track approval process just so they can rake in the dough from their data centers, but what about the customers who might end up paying more for their electricity because of these power-hungry operations? 🀯 I mean, come on governors proposing this joint plan with Data Center Coalition - are you guys even considering the people who aren't tech-savvy enough to navigate all the fine print? πŸ€” The fact that some analysts are already warning about potential backfires if states don't review these proposals carefully is just a big fat "tell" πŸ“£. Can't we just slow down and make sure everyone's protected here? πŸ™
 
idk about dis new plan πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ but its kinda interesin that governors r tryna help out PJM w/ data centers or somethin. i mean, tech firms wanna build these massive facilities ASAP so they dont lose $$$, and now the gov is like "hold up, let's make sure we get it right". its a good thing ppl r talkin about how to handle grid stress cuz that sounds like a big ol mess 🀯. but idk, i guess its all about balancin investment w/ consumer protection? πŸ€‘πŸ‘€
 
πŸ€” I think this plan to fast-track permitting and siting for data centers is a bit of a double-edged sword πŸ—‘οΈ. On one hand, it could bring much-needed investment from tech giants like Amazon and Google, which would be a boon for the US economy πŸ’Έ. However, there's also a risk that states might rush into approvals without doing enough due diligence, which could lead to unintended consequences πŸ”₯. The question is, how will PJM ensure that these power sources are reliable and don't compromise the grid? 🀞 It's a fine balance between accommodating big business and protecting consumers from price spikes βš–οΈ. And let's not forget about the priorities of who should lose power when the grid gets stressed - data centers or critical infrastructure like hospitals and emergency services? πŸ₯ That's a tough call to make πŸ‘€.
 
So I think this fast-track plan for data centers is super interesting πŸ€”. On one hand, it's awesome that the governors are trying to support their states' economies by facilitating new data center builds. Amazon, Google, and all those big tech firms are gonna be super happy about this ⚑️.

But at the same time, I'm a bit worried about the potential risks πŸ€•. If they're just gonna fast-track everything without proper review, it could lead to some major issues down the line. Like, what if these data centers start putting too much strain on the grid? Shouldn't we be prioritizing people's power supply over profits? πŸ’‘

And I'm also not sure about this whole 'who loses power when the grid is stressed' thing 😬. It seems like they're trying to navigate a super tricky situation, and it'll be interesting to see how all these different perspectives play out.

Anyway, I think it's clear that this plan has sparked some major debates, and we'll just have to wait and see how it all shakes out πŸ’₯
 
idk about this fast-track plan tho πŸ€” - its sounds like tech giants are getting special treatment lol πŸ˜‚ they want to build these massive data centers and PJM just lets them slide without even checking if it's good for the environment or ppl's wallets... plus, whats with all this talk of "guaranteeing their own power supply" ? that just sounds like a fancy way of saying "we'll take full responsibility when our data center blows up in your face" 😳
 
I gotta say, this data center plan sounds like a win-win for everyone involved! πŸ€‘ Technology firms get their hands on more power supply without waiting forever, while PJM gets to bolster its reliability and keep customers from getting slammed with price hikes. I think it's a solid idea to prioritize continuity of service, though - can't have the grid going dark when we need it most ⚑️. But, for real, who's gonna oversee this whole process? States gotta make sure they're reviewing projects properly or else politicians are gonna get roasted πŸ™„. One thing is for sure, though: data centers aren't just a necessary evil, they're the future πŸ’»!
 
I THINK THIS PLAN SOUNDS LIKE A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED!!! 🀩 WE NEED MORE DATA CENTERS TO CREATE JOBS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THESE STATES, BUT IT CAN GET COMPPLICATED WHEN IT COMES TO POWER SUPPLY. BY LETTING THE DATA CENTER GUARANTEE THEIR OWN POWER SOURCE, IT SEEMS LIKE A SMOOTH SOLUTION THAT COULD HELP EXPEDITE PERMITTING AND SITING FOR NEW FACILITIES πŸš€.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY SOME ANALYSTS ARE WORRIED ABOUT HOW THIS PROPOSAL WILL BE REVIEWED AND DECIDED UPON. WE DON'T WANT TO SACRIFICE CONTINUITY OF SERVICE ON THE GRID, THAT WOULD BE A HUGE CONCERN FOR CUSTOMERS 🚫.

I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT THIS PLAN NEEDS TO BE CAREFULLY REVIEWED AND EXAMINED BEFORE ANY DECISIONS ARE MADE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WORKS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF EVERYONE INVOLVED, FROM CUSTOMERS TO TECH FIRMS TO THE ENVIRONMENT 🌎.
 
I'm wondering, what does it say about our society when we're willing to sacrifice some of our fellow citizens' power in the name of progress and efficiency? These data centers need reliable electricity, I get that, but is it really worth putting the grid on shaky ground just to keep them humming? πŸ€” It's a bit concerning to me that politicians are more focused on lining up deals with big tech firms than ensuring the stability of our entire power system. And what about those who can't afford the increased prices when things get stressful? It's like we're playing a high-stakes game where some people are just collateral damage... πŸ’Έ
 
I'm thinking, if they can make sure data centers don't crash the whole system when power is short πŸ€”, that could be a win-win! But, what about all the other users who rely on the grid too? Like, what if Amazon Web Services and Google need more juice at the same time as schools or hospitals do? πŸ’‘ How are they gonna make sure everyone gets what they need? That's what I'm worried about πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ.
 
πŸ€” I think this plan could be a game-changer for tech firms like AWS and Google who are already racing to expand their data centers. If it means faster permitting and less disruption to consumers' power supply, that's gotta be a good thing! πŸ’Έ The idea of states handling the review process might be a bit sketchy, though - what if some governors get cozy with these companies? πŸ€‘ We need to make sure there's no backroom deal-making going on here. And what about PJM's reliability - do we really want to rely more on natural gas when it's such an unpredictable resource? ⚑️
 
Ugh, I'm so over this fast-track approval process for data centers πŸ™„. It's like they're saying "just build it already" without even considering the impact on the grid. I mean, can't we prioritize the reliability of our power supply instead of just trying to appease tech giants? πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ And what about the potential price spikes that this will cause for consumers? It's not like data centers are going to magically pay for themselves. πŸ’Έ Plus, who gets left without power when the grid is stressed? Should it be the little guy or should we just throw them under the bus? πŸ€” This whole proposal feels like a solution in search of a problem... πŸ˜’
 
πŸ€” idk if this is a good idea or not, but its def gonna give those tech giants what they want... faster permitting and all that jazz πŸš€. I mean, PJM's struggling to keep up with the demand, so maybe letting states handle the fast track approval is a way out? But at the same time, who loses power when the grid gets stressed? Shouldn't it be an emergency thing or something? πŸŒͺ️ not sure what the solution is here... feel like its gonna lead to some kinda chaos down the line...
 
I'm not sure about this data center joint plan thingy πŸ€”. I mean, is it really necessary for tech firms like Amazon to get their own power supply guaranteed just because they're building some new facilities? It seems like PJM's operations are already in a bit of trouble with all these demands and whatnot... can't they just figure out how to handle the increased energy needs on their own?

I'm worried about who loses power when the grid gets stressed 🚨. Should it be data centers or regular customers? And is extending the capacity charge for another year really gonna shield consumers from price spikes? It all seems a bit... convenient for the tech firms, if you ask me πŸ˜’.

And what's with the debate over who should lose power when the grid gets stressed? Can't they just work together to make sure everyone's got access to energy? I guess I'm just not seeing the benefits of this fast-track approval process πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ.
 
I think this plan is kinda genius πŸ€”, I mean who doesn't want to boost PJM's reliability and get some sweet investment from those big tech firms πŸ’Έ? But at the same time, we gotta make sure we're not putting too much strain on the grid 😬, I'm all for data centers getting their power supply guaranteed but we need to make sure they don't come at the expense of our customers' reliability πŸ™…β€β™‚οΈ. And what about those concerns about states reviewing projects properly? We can't just rush into this without making sure everything is on point 🚨. I guess only time will tell if this plan is gonna work out or not, but for now, I'm all for a smooth transition πŸ’»
 
omg u guys 🀯 this data center plan is like a double-edged sword I'm so torn... on one hand it's def a way to boost PJM's reliability & help new data centers get built ASAP which can lead to more jobs & economic growth πŸ€‘ but on the other hand there's concerns about how states will review these projects & who gets power when the grid is stressed 😬 what if they fast track too quickly & it backfires? or what if customers have to pay the price for this new infrastructure πŸ€”
 
I'm not sure about this data center plan πŸ€”. So basically, some US governors are trying to speed up permits for these big tech companies to build new facilities. Like, Amazon and Google want to move in ASAP so they don't lose any money from their power supply being interrupted ⏰. But I get worried that if we do fast-track this process, it might not be fair on everyone else πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ. What if the grid gets too stressed out when these new data centers come online? Shouldn't PJM prioritize keeping the power steady for all customers instead of just the ones running the data centers πŸ’‘?
 
I'm getting so sick of these power deals 🀯. Like, can't they just figure out how to balance their greed for data centers and customer needs? πŸ’Έ It's always "expedite permitting" this or "fast-track approval" that... don't they care about the grid collapsing? πŸŒ€ The thought of all those tech firms getting away with sucking up resources without any oversight is just wild. I mean, who loses power when the grid is stressed? Data centers or regular customers? Not sure what's more concerning, but one thing's for sure - this plan needs a serious overhaul πŸ’ͺ
 
I think this plan might be a good start πŸ€”, but I'm not sure about how it's gonna play out πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ. Data centers need power 24/7, so if they're fast-tracked, that means PJM needs to make sure the grid is reliable πŸ’». The idea of shielding consumers from price spikes is great, but what about when the grid gets stressed? Who's gonna get cut off first ⚑️? I'm not sure states are ready to take on that responsibility πŸ€”. Maybe we need a middle ground πŸŒ€? Like, PJM can still review permits and make sure data centers follow regulations, but with some flexibility for fast-tracking? It sounds like a delicate balance πŸ’Έ. The experts will have to weigh in and figure this out πŸ‘₯.
 
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