US Power-Grid Plan Aims to Accelerate Data-Center Connections

Data centers that have lined up new electricity capacity for their facilities would get priority in connecting to the largest US power grid under a proposal by PJM Interconnection LLC.

PJM, which operates the 13-state grid serving one-fifth of Americans, proposed Tuesday to accelerate federal approval of so-called co-located power plants. The plan seeks to ensure adequate supply as massive data-center campuses gobble up unprecedented amounts of electricity, straining the system.

Not only has that surging demand driven up power prices, but the speed at which data centers are trying to connect to the grid has created reliability concerns. Mounting ...