Federal regulators have agreed to let large energy users connect more quickly to the nation’s inefficient and electric transmission system to accommodate surging demand from power-hungry artificial intelligence data centers

US states fast-track power plant approvals for AI data centers in as little as 45 days, bypassing public hearings and environmental reviews.

FERC plans to finalize rules by June 2026 that streamline how large data centers connect to the US power grid, targeting facilities exceeding 20 megawatts.