White House and governors seek changes to AI-driven power supply

The White House and a bipartisan group of governors are urging PJM Interconnection to hold power auctions that would let tech companies bid to build new power plants, and officials plan to sign a statement of principles on Friday; PJM says it was not invited and will not attend.

The White House and several governors are urging steps to boost electricity supply and limit rising costs in the mid-Atlantic as data center demand grows. They plan a Friday event where the administration and governors will sign a statement of principles. Officials cite concern about the power needed for artificial intelligence and rising bills ahead of elections. Current facts: - The White House’s National Energy Dominance Council and governors from states including Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia want PJM Interconnection to hold a power auction for technology companies to bid on contracts to build new power plants. - The administration and the governors are scheduled to sign a statement of principles on Friday about this approach. - PJM said it was not invited to the event and announced it would not attend, while consumer advocates say ratepayers in the region have already borne billions in higher bills without seeing corresponding new generation built. Summary: Officials present the measure as an effort to increase supply and curb price increases in the mid-Atlantic region. The next formal step stated by organizers is the signing of a statement of principles on Friday; other procedural outcomes are undetermined at this time.