COLUMBUS, Ohio / CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The regional electric grid operator PJM Interconnection is warning lawmakers in Ohio and West Virginia that rapid growth in data centers could outpace the region’s available electricity supply.
PJM officials told legislators that large-scale data centers require enormous amounts of power and could strain the grid without major infrastructure upgrades. In West Virginia, PJM said Governor Patrick Morrisey’s “50 by 50” energy plan would require significant investments in transmission and generation capacity to meet projected demand.
In Ohio, PJM is facing criticism from the Ohio Manufacturers Association, which argues the grid operator’s pricing structure is placing an unfair burden on manufacturers. The association claims rising energy costs tied to grid constraints could harm industrial competitiveness.
PJM has responded by encouraging data center developers to bring their own electric generation capacity online to reduce strain on the grid and protect residential customers from higher rates.
