U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has sent federal regulators a proposed rule to speed connections between power-hungry data centers and the electric grid.
The proposal would let customers file joint interconnection requests for co-located data-center load and on-site generation, a change the Energy Department says would reduce study times and costs and help bring new power online faster.
It also asks the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to consider whether certain grid-project reviews, often measured in years, could be completed in 60 days, though FERC is not required to adopt the change.
The move comes as U.S. power demand is rising for the first time in two decades on artificial intelligence, and as the administration seeks more capacity, particularly from fossil and nuclear sources, and improved grid access for data-center operators.
The Edison Electric Institute backed the effort, saying it would strengthen the grid and lower customer costs.
Though, Camden Weber of the Center for Biological Diversity, criticized the idea, saying: “Pushing FERC to rubber-stamp connections in just 60 days while the government’s shut down and Trump builds a $300 million White House ballroom shows (how) out of touch his administration is.”
Energy secretaries can direct FERC to consider rules, but cannot compel adoption; the commission is set to have a 3–2 Republican majority.
