White House and Governors Propose Auction to Address AI Data Center Power Demands

The White House and a bipartisan group of governors, including Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro, plan to announce an emergency wholesale electricity auction to address rising power demands from AI data centers in the mid-Atlantic region. The initiative aims to encourage new power plant construction to stabilize supply and curb price spikes affecting consumers. PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator, was not invited to the event and declined participation. The plan seeks to balance energy needs of tech companies with consumer protections amid growing concerns over electricity costs.