{"id":411051,"date":"2025-10-30T18:32:31","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T17:32:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=411051"},"modified":"2025-10-30T18:32:33","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T17:32:33","slug":"doe-grid-policy-data-centers-new-thinking-ahead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=411051","title":{"rendered":"DOE Grid Policy & Data Centers: New Thinking Ahead?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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From Master Resource<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Kennedy Maize<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIdeas have consequences. Even new pathbreaking ones that are shaking the foundations of the Federal Power Act of 1935 and state public utility regulation.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The Department of Energy has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to federalize and streamline the connection of large data centers to the interstate transmission grid. DOE last week (Oct. 23) sent FERC a 16-page draft notice of proposed rule making<\/a>, asking the commission to enact the new, unprecedented rule by the end of April, which is unlikely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the DOE proposal, FERC would take over interconnection decisions for \u201clarge load\u201d data centers, defined as those with a load of 20 MW or greater. These decisions are now made by regional transmission organizations, such as the PJM Interconnection, or by state regulatory agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The DOE proposed rule states:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In light of the unprecedented current and expected growth of large loads seeking to interconnect to the transmission system, and to provide open access and non discriminatory access to the transmission system, it has become necessary to standardize interconnection procedures and agreements for such loads, including those seeking to share a point of interconnection with new or existing generation facilities (hybrid facilities).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In a cover letter, Energy Secretary Chris Wright linked his plan for FERC to make the interconnections to the Trump administration\u2019s ambitions for artificial intelligence. Wright wrote, \u201cThis Administration is committed to revitalizing domestic manufacturing\/ and driving American AI innovation, both of which will require unprecedented and extraordinary quantities of electricity and substantial investment in the Nation\u2019s interstate transmission system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reactions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DOE\u2019s action quickly generated some head-scratching and skepticism as well as qualified and sometimes lukewarm support. Mark Christie, former FERC member and chairman until last summer \u2014 when the White House nominated former FERC staffer Laura Swett to the commission with the intent to name her chairman (which occurred on Oct. 23, the same day as the Wright plan) \u2014 posted an analysis<\/a> of the DOE data center proposal on Linkedin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christie, who now heads the new Center for Energy Law and Policy at the William and Mary Law School, commenting that \u201cthe evil is always in the details,\u201d raised three \u201ccore questions\u201d about the Wright proposal:<\/p>\n\n\n\n