US Government Issues Emergency Order to Prevent Blackouts, Data Centers May Face Power Restrictions

The US Department of Energy has issued an emergency order aimed at preventing power outages as electricity demand escalates. This directive, issued on Monday, has prompted PJM Interconnection, the electricity transmission operator for several US regions, to instruct data centers and other major electricity consumers to switch to backup power sources if necessary. Data centers have frequently been cited as a reason for rising electricity prices and have contributed to a negative public perception of AI, according to recent polls. The Energy Department also attributed the potential for blackouts to a significant number of planned generator outages during the autumn maintenance period. The emergency order is set to remain in effect until October 16. Energy Secretary Chris Wright expressed confidence in the decision, stating, "This order will help ensure millions of American families and businesses across the mid-Atlantic have access to affordable, reliable and secure electricity by making additional power generation, including back-up power, available to use as needed." The Department of Energy confirmed that the US has 35 GW of available backup generation capacity nationwide. PJM issued a maximum generation alert for October 13 and 14, citing forecasts of above-normal temperatures across its service region and noting that additional emergency procedures might be required based on system conditions. PJM clarified that this alert does not mandate any action from customers. These warnings precede the US midterm elections, where energy policy, AI, and data centers are prominent issues. Any power disruptions or failures to manage them effectively could exacerbate tensions between US residents, utility companies, and AI firms. Former President Donald Trump has recently downplayed criticism of AI, calling it a "hoax," despite previously attempting to alleviate the strain data centers placed on the grid by signing a non-binding pledge in February for technology and data center companies to supply their own electricity. Concurrently, the Department of Energy has advocated for the construction of more nuclear reactors to meet the energy demands of AI development.