The Trump administration on Friday will push the largest electricity grid in the U.S. to make the big technology companies pay for new power plants.
Electricity prices have exploded in recent years on PJM Interconnection due in large part to the data centers that tech companies are building to train and power artificial intelligence.
The PJM grid serves more than 65 million people across 13 states and Washington, D.C. Its service area includes northern Virginia, the largest data center market in the world.
President Donald Trump wants PJM to hold an emergency auction in which the tech companies would bid on contracts for new electricity generation, a White House official told CNBC. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and bi-partisan governors will unveil the proposal Friday morning.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, the administration is leading a unprecedented bi-partisan effort urging PJM to fix the energy subtraction failures of the past, prevent price increases, and reduce the risk of blackouts,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said.
