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User:MPS/Implications of 2020s Data Center Boom on Virginia

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This is a User Subpage devoted to a specific topic that I am trying to flesh out. I intend to edit articles related to the 2020s Data Center Boom. In 2025, I am interested in how Virginia and Data Center Alley near Ashburn, Virginia are becoming the world's data center capital. Dominion Energy is the state power monopoly, and every day I see interesting news with respect to how FERC, PJM, and NERC are wrestling with anticipated electricity generation shortages, potential prices going up, construction and siting permits being fought over, and different interest groups are starting to articulate their interests in this emerging issue. Virginia is at the epicenter of an emerging industrial revolution with far reaching social, economic, and political ramifications. I am drafting an article and timeline at User:MPS/Implications of 2020s Data Center Boom on Virginia to articulate how these many moving pieces fit together. I may someday write an article on the 2020s Data Center Boom if there is enough coherent (and reliably sourced!) content.

Potential Topics

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timeline of things being founded (FERC / NERC / PJM)

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  • 2020s Data Center boom timeline
    • big hyperscale datacenters list
    • a little about GPT
    • major players and corporations in the
    • good sources for additional research
  • Recent (2025 - 2026) press releases etc

Additional Data and resources:

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additional ideas for directions this research could go

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Timeline

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1900s

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1900s and 1910s

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1920s and 1930s

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1940s and 1950s

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1960s

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  • 1962 - 1963 -- The electricity industry created an informal, voluntary organization of operating personnel to facilitate coordination of the bulk power system in the United States and Canada. Four interconnected transmission systems connected to three more systems, forming the largest electricity grid in the world. In January 1963, North American Power Systems Interconnection Committee (NAPSIC was formed.[10]
  • November 9, 1965 -- Northeast blackout of 1965 -- 30 million lost power in the northeastern United States and southeastern Ontario, Canada
  • 1967 -- Members of Congress proposed the Electric Power Reliability Act to establish a council on power reliability coordination
  • 1967 - 1968 -- The Federal Power Commission (with John A. Carver Jr. as FPC Chairman and Lee C. White and Carl E. Bagge as FPC commissioners), predecessor of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), recommended the formation of a council on power coordination made up of representatives from each regional coordinating organization in the United States to exchange and share information; and to review, discuss, and assist in resolving interregional coordination matters. Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page without content in them (see the help page).
  • June 1968 the original National Electric Reliability Council NERC was founded in response to the 1965 blackout and on the recommendation of the Federal Power Commission. In 1981 NERC changed its name to North American Electrical Reliability Council. (NERC existed as a council until the successor NERC Corporation formed in 2006).

1970s

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1980s

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  • 1980 -- Jimmy Carter signs the Energy Security Act on June 30, 1980, to further encourage biomass energy technology adoption and other renewable energy resources means to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

1990s

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  • 1992 -- October 1992 -- Energy Policy Act of 1992 passes. Among other provisions, it reformed the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA) to help small utility companies stay competitive with larger utilities and amended the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978, broadening the range of resource choices for utility companies and outlined new rate-making standards. It also amended parts of the Federal Power Act of 1935 (Title VII). Some energy implications included requiring states to consider new regulatory standards that would require utilities to undertake integrated resource planning; allow the energy efficiency programs to be at least as profitable as new supply options; and encourage improvements in supply system efficiency.
  • 1996-- In April 1996, FERC issued two "deregulation" orders that changed the landscape of how electricity is generated, transmitted, and distributed throughout North America. (Prior to these rulings, generated power and the subsequent energy provided to customers by local service providers was owned and controlled by single entities who often owned the entire generation, transmission, and distribution assets.)
    • Order No. 888[12] addressed "Promoting Wholesale Competition Through Open Access Non-discriminatory Transmission Services by Public Utilities; Recovery of Stranded Costs by Public Utilities and Transmitting Utilities." and
    • Order No. 889[13] added and amended existing rules "...establishing and governing an Open Access Same-time Information System (OASIS) (formerly real-time information networks) and prescribing standards of conduct." Order No. 889 amended rules establishing and governing the Open Access Same-time Information System (OASIS) (formerly real-time information networks) and prescribed standards of conduct for its use and access. Subsequent orders provided clarifications, standards and protocols.[13]
  • 1998 --
  • 1999 --
    • December 29, 1999, Order No. 2000 codified what it means to be an RTO including its minimum characteristics, functions and ratemaking policy. The order also stated its commitment toward open architecture with a stated goal that an RTO "...be designed so that they can evolve over time."[14] The order still, however, does not mandate that a new entity called an RTO be created, nor does it mandate that an entity call itself an RTO to comply with the FERC's order.
    • In 1999, New York forms its independent system operator, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO).[15] The NYISO is the 501(c)(3)[16] nonprofit quasi-governmental agency charged by New York with auctions of energy supplies. Specifically, the NYISO: "operates New York's bulk electricity grid, administers the state's wholesale electricity markets, and provides comprehensive reliability planning for the state's bulk electricity system. A not-for-profit corporation, the NYISO began operating in 1999."(from NYISO statement of purposes)[15]

21st Century

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2000s

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  • 2000 -- In 2000, NERC established the Electricity Sector Information Sharing and Analysis Center, which provides industry with timely responses and alerts on cyber and physical security threats that have the potential to impact the bulk power system. ES-ISAC changed its name in 2015 to Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center.
  • 2001 --
    • MISO was approved as the nation's first RTO by FERC in 2001
    • On May 18, President Bush signed Executive Order 13211 Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use[17] [18]-- This order applies to "any significant energy action as defined by the E.O. A significant energy action is one that promulgates, or is expected to lead to the promulgation of, a final rule that is: ( 1) a significant regulatory action under E.O. 12866 [from Sep 30 1993 covering Regulatory Planning and Review [19]] and (2) likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution or use of energy or is designated by the Administrator of OMB/OIRA as a significant energy action."
  • 2003 --
    • On August 14, 2003, many states experienced a power outage in the Northeast blackout of 2003 related to a software bug in the alarm system at the control room of FirstEnergy,
    • In December 2003, two RTOs (MISO and PJM) filed a Joint Operating Agreement with FERC, detailing how the organizations will share information and phase in their respective operations.[20]
  • 2004 -- The Virginia State Corporation Commission authorizes Dominion Virginia Power to transfer control of its transmission assets to the PJM interconnection. [21]
  • 2005 -- The Energy Policy Act of 2005 provided incentives for ethanol production in gasoline as well as other incentives for alternative energy like wind, geotherma energy, and tidal power. The act also authorized the Department of Energy to designate National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETCs) where there are limitations for Electric power transmission in that area. NIETCs are geographic areas experiencing electric energy transmission capacity constraints or congestion adversely impacting consumers. NIETCs are identified through the issuance of Congestion Studies conducted by the Department of Energy (DOE). [22] If state and local governments fail to issue permits to increase transmission capacity in these areas, FERC can issue federal permits empowering project directors to use eminent domain to purchase property needed to complete projects.[23]
  • On February 16, 2007, FERC issued Order 890, "addressing and remedying opportunities for undue discrimination under the Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) adopted in Order No. 888. The OATT was intended to foster greater competition in wholesale power markets by reducing barriers to entry in the provision of transmission service. In the twelve years since Order No. 888, however, flaws in the OATT undermined, in part, its ability to realize the core objective of remedying undue discrimination. The Commission acted in Order No. 890 to correct these flaws by reforming the terms and conditions of the OATT in several critical areas, including the calculation of available transfer capability (ATC), the planning of transmission facilities, and the conditions of services offered by each transmission provider. [24]
  • 2009 -- In the Piedmont Environmental Council case, the Fourth Circuit held (1) Section 216 does not give FERC jurisdiction when a state timely denies a transmission project’s siting application, (2) FERC’s procedural regulations on the content of permit applications under Section 216 did not require preparation of an EIS under NEPA, and (3) FERC violated the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) regulations when it failed to consult with the CEQ before amending the NEPA implementing regulations to cover Section 216 permit applications. [25].

2010s

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  • July 21. 2011 -- FERC Issues Order 1000 "Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation by Transmission Owning and Operating Public Utilities" [26] Order No. 1000 is a Final Rule that reforms the Commission’s electric transmission planning and cost allocation requirements for public utility transmission providers. The rule builds on the reforms of Order No. 890 and corrects remaining deficiencies with respect to transmission planning processes and cost allocation methods. [27]
  • 2012 -- California Independent System Operator (CAISO) (a non-profit Independent System Operator) coins the term Duck curve to illustrate the varying ability of solar and gas to meet demand throughout the day.
  • 2016 -- The Supreme Court ruled in 2016 in FERC v. Electric Power Supply Ass'n that the agency had the authority to regulate demand response transactions.[28]
  • 2017 -- On September 29, DoE announced a NOPR on Grid Resiliency Pricing Rule requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to act within 60 days to provide additional financial support to baseload power plants.[29]
  • 2018 -- In February 2018, FERC issued Order No. 841, which required wholesale markets to open up to individual storage installations, regardless of interconnection point (transmission, distribution or behind-the-meter).[30][31] The Order was challenged in court by the state public utility commissions via the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), the American Public Power Association, and others who claimed that FERC overstepped its jurisdiction by regulating how local electric distribution and behind-the-meter facilities are administered, i.e., in not providing an opt out of wholesale market access for energy storage facilities located at the distribution level or behind-the-meter. A United States courts of appeals court (the D.C. Circuit) issued an order in July 2020 that upheld Order 841 and dismissed the petitioners' complaints.[32][33][34]
  • In April 2018, NERC issues its ERO Reliability Assessment Process. [35]

Early 2020s

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  • 2020 -- FERC issued Order No. 2222 on September 17, 2020, enabling distributed energy resources such as batteries and demand response to participate in regional wholesale electricity markets.[36][37] Market operators submitted initial compliance plans by early 2022.[38]
  • 2021
    • President Biden signs the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) which contains some energy provisions, including a provision granted FERC authority to supersede state siting decisions for electric transmission projects. [39]
    • On December 2021, FERC issues Order 881, a final rule that requires all transmission providers to use Ambient Adjusted Ratings (AAR) [i.e., ratings adjusted by weather and temperature] as the basis for evaluating near-term transmission service. This is anticipated to increase utilization efficiency of existing transmisison assets and lower costs for consumers. [40]
  • 2022
    • On May 19, 2022, FERC issued Order No. 881-A[41], an update to Order 881 that offers numerous clarifications in response to numerous requests for rehearing and/or clarification [42] , and in particular clarifies the use of AAR for re-calculations on some or all transmission lines. It also makes remarks on data sharing burden, OASIS access, and the role of independent market monitors.[43] [44]
  • On February 21 2023, FERC issued a 112-page document accepting PJM's FPA section 205 proposal on tariff revisions (from December 23, 2022) and dismissed their complaint alleging that the Locational Deliverability Area (LDA) Reliability Requirement (without the changes) would result in an unjust and unreasonable auction outcome. [45]
    • February 24, 2023 -- Mark Takahashi, Chair, PJM Board of Managers, writes a letter to PJM stakeholders noting that "that there is up to 40 GW at risk of retirement from economic and policy drivers by 2030." and telegraphing that despite ongoing efforts by the Resource Adequacy Senior Task Force (RASTF) and the Clean Attribute Procurement Senior Task Force (CAPSTF), " the Board believes near-term changes to the Reliability Pricing Model (RPM) are necessary to ensure that PJM can maintain resource adequacy into the future." To this end, he announces that PJM "have decided to implement the Critical Issue Fast Path (CIFP) accelerated stakeholder process mechanism to further pursue stakeholder consensus that would inform a PJM Board decision on a potential FERC filing targeted for October 1, 2023." [46]
  • On July 28, 2023, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued Order No. 2023, which regulates the interconnection process that ties renewables projects into the large-scale grid. Among other provisions, the rule requires transmission planners to consolidate projects into 'clusters' for regulatory approval purposes on a 'first-ready, first-served' basis that prioritizes the most well-studied and fully financed projects, spread grid upgrade costs over multiple projects, forecast advanced technologies, and allow for multiple projects to share a new single interconnection point. It also "imposes firm deadlines and penalties if transmission providers fail to complete interconnection studies on time".[47]
  • On September 18, 2023, the BIG WIRES Act was introduced in the United States Senate by Senator John Hickenlooper (D‑CO) as S. 2827[48] and in the House of Representatives by Representative Scott Peters (D‑CA) as H.R. 5551.[49] The BIG WIRES Act bill would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to establish minimum interregional transfer capabilities, and for other purposes.

2024 Timeline

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  • 2024

March

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  • March 21, 2024, FERC issued Order No. 2023-A, an amendment clarifying certain provisions in the order, such as compliance filing requirements, the deadline for utilities to edit interconnect requests upon submission, the role of substation use in determining cost allocation, and the use of surety bonds in financing. [50]

April 2024

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  • On April 25, 2024, the DOE finalized a rule to implement the requirement from the The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 required the federal government to implement a two-year deadline for permitting approvals for energy projects, including grid transmission, and also to designate a lead agency for such projects. The new rule, called Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorizations and Permits Program (CITAP Program), stated the DOE would assume the role of default lead agency for most new power transmission projects. The rule also stated that the DOE would streamline permitting approvals, require only one environmental impact statement per project, and increase transparency around the permitting process.[51]
    • On the same day, the DOE authorized changes to its categorical exclusion process under the National Environmental Policy Act, allowing faster permit reviews for grid battery storage, flywheel storage, reconductoring and advanced power flow control, and midsize solar PV projects.[52]

May 2024

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  • On May 1, 2024, DoE publishes a new rule "Coordination of Federal Authorizations for Electric Transmission Facilities" that will specifically "establishing an integrated and comprehensive Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorizations and Permits Program (CITAP Program); making participation in the Integrated Interagency Pre-Application (IIP) Process a pre-condition for assistance under the CITAP Program; re-establishing the IIP Process as an iterative and collaborative process between the proponent of a proposed electric transmission project and Federal and State agencies to develop information needed for Federal authorizations; requiring the project proponent to engage in robust engagement with the public, communities of interest, and Indian Tribes during the IIP Process; aligning and harmonizing the IIP Process and implementation of the FPA with the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act; and ensuring that DOE may carry out its statutory obligation to prepare a single environmental review document sufficient for the purposes of all Federal authorizations necessary to site a proposed project." [53]
    • On May 13, 2024, FERC issued Order Nos. 1920 and 1977. The former order requires utilities to plan 20 years in advance to anticipate future regional (though not interregional) transmission needs, with five-year updates, and to cooperate in creating a default cost-sharing plan to deliver to state regulators. It "provides for cost-effective expansion of transmission that is being replaced, when needed, known as 'right-sizing' transmission facilities", and it allows states more opportunities to cooperate with utility companies and energy project developers, while preventing states that benefit from regional transmission projects from not paying for them.[54][55][56]

November 2024

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  • On November 1, 2024, FERC holds a technical conference on co-location / colo / Colocation centre large loads with generation. The conference is entitled "Commissioner-led Technical Conference Regarding Large Loads Co-Located at Generating Facilities" to address resource adequacy. [57] Speakers include Mark Christie, David Rosner,

December 2024

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2025 Timeline

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April

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  • On April 8, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14262, "Strengthening the Reliability and Security of the United States Electric Grid.” EO 14262 builds on EO 14156, “Declaring a National Emergency (Jan. 20, 2025),” which declared that the previous administration had driven the Nation into a national energy emergency where a precariously inadequate and intermittent energy supply and increasingly unreliable grid require swift action. The United States’ ability to remain at the forefront of technological innovation depends on a reliable supply of energy and the integrity of our Nation’s electrical grid. [60] EO 14262 mandates the development of a uniform methodology for analyzing current and anticipated reserve margins across regions of the bulk power system regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Among other things, EO 14262 requires that such methodology accredit generation resources based on the historical performance of each generation resource type. The subsequent July 2025 report served as DOE’s response to Section 3(b) of EO 14262 by delivering the required uniform methodology to identify at-risk region(s) and guide reliability interventions. The methodology described therein and any analysis it produces will be assessed on a regular basis to ensure its usefulness for effective action among industry and government decision-makers across the United States.

May

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  • On May 2, PJM released 51 Generation resource projects to address near term electricity demand growth. [61]
  • On May 2, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signs a bill mandating that Dominion Energy establish a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) pilot program. [62] The pilot program must be filed with the State Corporation Commission no later than December 1, 2025 and will include residential battery incentives, and "residential and commercial and industrial customers may enroll, either directly or through an aggregator" A program for electrification of school buses must be filed with the SCC no later than December 31, 2027. . [63]
  • On May 9, PJM held a Large Loads Additions Workshop to discuss large load benefits and challenges, discuss PJM response to FERC 206 (co-located load) and examine opportunities, concepts, and and options for enhancing flexibility and next steps for stakeholders. [64]

June

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  • on June 26, the DoE issued a NOPR that would streamline the procedure for obtaining authorization to export electric energy from the United States to foreign countries under § 202(e) of the Federal Power Act. [65]

July

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  • In July 2025, DoE publishes a Resource Adequacy Report [66] in collaboration with and with assistance from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
  • At the July 29 PJM Load Analysis Subcommittee meeting [67] [68] , members discussed Large Load Adjustments in the Load Forecast -- specifically a letter to the PJM Board of Managers from [69] David S. Lapp, People’s Counsel of the State of Maryland, discussing how "some of the PJM electric distribution companies (“EDCs”), who, evidence shows, are applying very different criteria in deciding what projected future load growth to request PJM add to its forecast through the Load Forecast Adjustment process." The concern is that inconsistencies in the EDC load growth projections could create errors in the forecast and ill-conceived transmission investments that could raise consimer costs[70]
  • On July 30, PJM announced the results of its 2025/26 capacity auction, which revealed that costs will be roughly seven times greater than in 2024/25. [71]

August

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  • on August 8, the PJM Board of Managers announced a expedited stakeholder process called Critical Issue Fast Path (CIFP) to address five topics [72] related to resourcing "adequacy challenges posed by rapidly interconnecting data centers and other large loads." . These concerns are (1) Resource Adequacy, (2) Reliability Criteria (3) Interconnection Rules (4) Coordination, and (5) Timing. [73]. PJM Board of Managers Chair David E. Mills wrote that reource adequacy should be one of PJM's highest priorities. Manu Asthana, PJM President & CEO, commented that "we need to make sure that we can preserve system reliability for the average consumer as this demand is added to the system"
    • on Aug 18, PJM held a workshop as a forum to receive feedback on the Board’s proposed CIFP scope. They released a 34-page "conceptual proposal" [74] and sought feedback from members. The proposal included concepts like Bring Your Own Generator (BYOG, Voluntary versus mandatory Non-Capacity-Backed-Load (NCBL, Demand Response program enhancements, and potential modifications to the interconnection queue. part of PJM's CIFP measures includes consideration of Non-Capacity-Backed Load (NCBL) service, which would allow certain large loads to forgo capacity costs in exchange for being subject to curtailment during reliability shortfalls. While NCBL would be a temporary (transitional) product, Capacity-Backed Load and Demand Response are permanent products included in capacity planning with unlimited participation.
    • On August 22, GO15 go15.org (an association of Very Large Power Grid Operators) states that CIFP is driven by " a 32 GW projected demand surge by 2030 —primarily from data centers— amid tight supply conditions and record capacity auction prices." [75]
  • On August 25, Mark Christie departs his role as FERC commissioner

September

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  • On September 2, the CIFP LLA group released their three-page work plan in a pre-CIFP workshop. [76] According to this plan, CIFP is in Stage 1 of 4 in mid-Spetember, and is supposed to develop and finalize the proposals prior to a final meeting and vote on November 19. [77]

October

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November

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  • November 19 -- CIFP-LLA Stage 4 meeting rejection -- At a PJM Special Members Committee meeting, PJM members vote overwhelmingly (31 for, 67 against [83] ) to reject all 12 Critical Issue Fast Path - Large Load Additions (CIFP - LLA) proposals [84] including those that would have allowed data center companies to bring their own power sources. [85] Jeffrey Shields, a PJM spokesman, says that PJM will provide some sort of proposal to FERC "in coming weeks"
  • November 20 -- DoE Reorganizes [86] [87] removing the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OECD), Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), Grid Deployment Office (GDO), and others, and absorbing them into the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation. GDO managed the Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorizations and Permits (CITAP) program. Upon the reorganization and funding cuts, non-profit climate policy organization Clean Tomorrow has launched a campaign called Re-Energizing America, a creating a roadmap to address the innovation cliff that will occur when substantial federal funding expires in 2026. [88]
  • On November 25, one week after the failed CIFP-LLA vote, Monitoring Analytics (the independent market monitor aka independent market monitor aka IMM for PJM) filed a complaint against PJM to FERC in response to the October 23 ANOPR. The complaint seeks "an order finding that PJM has the authority to add large new data center loads only when they can be served reliably as defined both by transmission and capacity adequacy, and directing PJM to file tariff language stating this explicitly. The Complaint also seeks an order finding that PJM’s failure to clarify and enforce its existing rules and to protect reliable and affordable service in PJM is unjust and unreasonable."[89]

December

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Future Projected Timeline

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December 2025

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  • PJM submits CIFP to FERC

2026

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2030s

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  • 2035 -- Lorem Ipsem

Pretty Pictures

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The six North American regional entities in 2021. The striped area indicates the regions where the load-serving entities belong to one Regional entity (RE), and the transmission system operator to another.[92]
The two major and three minor NERC interconnections, and the nine NERC Regional Reliability Councils
RTO & ISO and Full Map 2025
High voltage power grid in the United States in kilovolts (kV)
  500+
  400-500
  300-400
  200-300
  100-200
  <100
Centralized (left) vs distributed generation (right)
Power stationTransformerElectric power transmissionTransformer
Simplified diagram of AC electricity grid from generation stations to consumers in North America

References / See Also

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  1. ^ https://www.nerc.com/globalassets/our-work/reports/white-papers/order_881_881-a_position_paper-final.pdf he NERC System Protection and Control Working Group (SPCWG) has reviewed FERC orders 881 and 881- A and has found some ambiguity in them regarding requirements for protection system loadability. Order 881 was directed in part to transmission providers to implement ambient-adjusted ratings (AAR) on the transmission lines over which they provide transmission service. This paper addresses how the protection system settings can comply with the orders and with PRC-023-4, “Transmission Relay Loadability,” and any of its future revisions.
  2. ^ https://www.nerc.com/globalassets/who-we-are/standing-committees/rstc/spcwg/spcwg_agenda_october_2024.pdf
  3. ^ https://www.trccompanies.com/insights/ferc-action-facilities-ratings/
  4. ^ https://www.nerc.com/globalassets/standards/reliability-standards/fac/fac-008-5.pdf
  5. ^ https://www.certrec.com/blog/nerc-sees-discrepancies-between-documented-equipment-facility-ratings-and-actual-field-conditions-what-are-fac-008-requirements/
  6. ^ https://www.nerc.com/standards/reliability-standards/fac/fac-008-5
  7. ^ https://www.nerc.com/standards/reliability-standards
  8. ^ 15 U.S.C. § 717f(c).
  9. ^ Ascani, Catherine (2009). "Casenote: Deal or No Deal: It's a Deal in Morgan Stanley Capital Group, Inc. v. Public Utility District No. 1 of Snohomish County, Washington". Mercer Law Review. 60. Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University: 1025, 1032–33.
  10. ^ https://www.nerc.com/globalassets/who-we-are/news/2023/march-2023-nerc-timeline.pdf "The electricity industry created an informal, voluntary organization of operating personnel to facilitate coordination of the bulk power system in the United States and Canada. Four interconnected transmission systems connected to three more systems, forming the largest electricity grid in the world. In January 1963, the North American Power Systems Interconnection Committee (NAPSIC) was formed."
  11. ^ https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/7172
  12. ^ "FERC: Landmark Orders – Order No. 888". www.ferc.gov. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  13. ^ a b "FERC: Landmark Orders – Gas". www.ferc.gov. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference FO2000fr was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ a b New York Independent System Operator official website Public information page Archived 2017-07-18 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 6, 2009.
  16. ^ "New York Independent System Operator Inc." Tax Exempt Organization Search. Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  17. ^ https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/WCPD-2001-05-21/pdf/WCPD-2001-05-21-Pg769.pdf
  18. ^ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2001/05/22/01-13116/actions-concerning-regulations-that-significantly-affect-energy-supply-distribution-or-use
  19. ^ https://www.archives.gov/files/federal-register/executive-orders/pdf/12866.pdf
  20. ^ "Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. and PJM Interconnection, L.L.C., Docket Nos. ER04-375-017, ER04-375-018" (PDF). Joint and Common Market. Midwest ISO. October 26, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 13, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
  21. ^ https://www.energyonline.com/Industry/News.aspx?NewsID=6845&Virginia_SCC_Gives_Approval_for_Dominion_Virginia_Power_to_Join_PJM
  22. ^ https://www.winston.com/en/blogs-and-podcasts/winston-and-the-legal-environment/will-the-infrastructure-investment-and-jobs-act-accelerate-transmission-development
  23. ^ "National Electric Transmission Congestion Report and Final National Corridor Designations: Frequently Asked Questions". United States Department of Energy. 2007-10-02. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21.
  24. ^ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2009/11/25/E9-28216/preventing-undue-discrimination-and-preference-in-transmission-service
  25. ^ Piedmont Env’t Council v. FERC, 558 F.3d 304 (4th Cir. 2009). https://www.winston.com/en/blogs-and-podcasts/winston-and-the-legal-environment/will-the-infrastructure-investment-and-jobs-act-accelerate-transmission-development
  26. ^ https://www.ferc.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/OrderNo.1000.pdf
  27. ^ https://www.ferc.gov/electric-transmission/order-no-1000-transmission-planning-and-cost-allocation
  28. ^ FERC v. Electric Power Supply Assn., No. 14–840, 577 U. S. ____, slip op. at 2, 33–34 (2016).
  29. ^ https://www.icf.com/insights/energy/doe-nopr
  30. ^ Ko, Ted (2019-10-17). "Let's kill 'utility-' or 'grid-scale' storage". Utility Dive. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  31. ^ Konidena, Rao (2019). "FERC Order 841 levels the playing field for energy storage". MRS Energy & Sustainability. 6 5: 1–3. doi:10.1557/mre.2019.5. S2CID 182646294 – via CambridgeCore.
  32. ^ Jeff St. John (July 10, 2020). "'Enormous Step' for Energy Storage as Court Upholds FERC Order 841, Opening Wholesale Markets". www.greentechmedia.com. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  33. ^ "FERC Order 841: US about to take 'most important' step towards clean energy future". www.energy-storage.news. July 13, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  34. ^ Sean Baur (September 1, 2020). "Going beyond Order 841 to more meaningful FERC storage policy". Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  35. ^ https://www.nerc.com/globalassets/who-we-are/standing-committees/rstc/ras/ero-reliability-assessment-process-document.pdf
  36. ^ "FERC Opens Wholesale Markets to Distributed Resources: Landmark Action Breaks Down Barriers to Emerging Technologies, Boosts Competition". FERC. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
  37. ^ "'Game-Changer' FERC Order Opens Up Wholesale Grid Markets to Distributed Energy Resources". www.greentechmedia.com. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
  38. ^ "FERC Order 2222: Experts offer cheers and jeers for first round of filings". Canary Media. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
  39. ^ https://www.winston.com/en/blogs-and-podcasts/winston-and-the-legal-environment/will-the-infrastructure-investment-and-jobs-act-accelerate-transmission-development
  40. ^ https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/news/ferc-rule-improve-transmission-line-ratings-will-help-lower-transmission-costs "FERC today approved a final rule that will more efficiently utilize our nation’s transmission grid and help lower costs for consumers by improving both the accuracy and transparency of transmission line ratings. " Transmission line ratings represent the maximum transfer capability of each transmission line and can change based on weather conditions. This final rule requires all transmission providers, both inside and outside of organized markets, to use ambient-adjusted ratings as the basis for evaluating near-term transmission service to increase the accuracy of near-term line ratings. Typically, line ratings are based on conservative assumptions about worst case, long-term air temperature and other weather conditions that can lead to underutilization of our transmission grid." ... "While the final rule does not mandate the adoption of dynamic line ratings – ratings that account for other factors like wind speed – the rule does require that organized market operators establish and maintain systems and procedures necessary to allow transmission owners that would like to use dynamic line ratings the ability to do so. The rule acknowledges that dynamic line ratings may deliver incremental benefits and announces that the Commission is opening a proceeding in AD22-5-000 to continue to build the record and explore the potential for further action on dynamic line ratings."
  41. ^ https://www.troutmanenergyreport.com/2022/06/ferc-clarifies-order-on-transmission-line-ratings/
  42. ^ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/05/25/2022-11233/managing-transmission-line-ratings "On January 18, 2022, several entities filed requests for rehearing and/or clarification of Order No. 881."
  43. ^ ibid "In this order, we sustain the result of Order No. 881 and continue to find that, because transmission line ratings and the rules by which they are established are practices that directly affect the cost of wholesale energy, capacity, and ancillary services, as well as the rates for the transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce (hereinafter referred to collectively as “wholesale rates”), inaccurate transmission line ratings result in Commission-jurisdictional rates that are unjust and unreasonable. Below, we first discuss requests for rehearing and/or clarification related to the AAR requirements that the Commission adopted in Order No. 881, specifically: the requirement for transmission providers to implement AARs on all transmission lines; the impact of the AAR requirements on transmission line relays; the use of AARs 10 days forward in transmission service and operations; seasonal line rating floors; the minimum AAR temperature range and AAR granularity; and solar heating in AAR calculations. Second, we discuss requests for rehearing related to the annual recalculation of seasonal line ratings, as required by Order No. 881. Third, we discuss requests for rehearing and/or clarification related to the transparency requirements that the Commission adopted in Order No. 881, including the data sharing burden, OASIS access, and the role of independent market monitors. Lastly, we address requests for rehearing and/or clarification related to compliance and other miscellaneous issues."
  44. ^ https://www.troutmanenergyreport.com/2022/06/ferc-clarifies-order-on-transmission-line-ratings/
  45. ^ "ORDER ON PROPOSED TARIFF REVISIONS AND DISMISSING COMPLAINT (Issued February 21, 2023) On December 23, 2022, pursuant to section 205 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) and Part 35 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM) filed proposed revisions to the PJM Open Access Transmission Tariff (Tariff) to exclude planned generation capacity resources from the calculation of the Locational Deliverability Area Reliability Requirement (LDA Reliability Requirement) if the addition of such resources materially increases the reliability requirement and such resources do not participate in the capacity auction. On December 23, 2022, pursuant to section 206 of the FPA, PJM also filed a complaint alleging that the LDA Reliability Requirement, absent the changes proposed in the concurrent FPA section 205 filing, results in an unjust and unreasonable auction outcome. As discussed below, we accept PJM’s FPA section 205 proposal, effective December 24, 2022, as requested, and dismiss PJM’s complaint as moot."
  46. ^ https://www.pjm.com/-/media/DotCom/about-pjm/who-we-are/public-disclosures/20230224-board-letter-re-initiation-of-the-critical-issue-fast-path-process-to-address-resource-adequacy-issues.ashx
  47. ^ "Explainer on the Interconnection Final Rule". Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. July 28, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  48. ^ "BIG WIRES Act (S. 2827)". GovTrack.us. Archived from the original on 2023-11-06. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  49. ^ "Text of H.R. 5551: BIG WIRES Act (Introduced version)". GovTrack.us. Archived from the original on 2023-11-06. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  50. ^ "Explainer on the Interconnection Final Rule Requests for Rehearing and Clarification (FERC Order No. 2023-A)". Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. March 21, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  51. ^ Cite error: The named reference DOE CITAP 2024 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  52. ^ "DOE Reduces Regulatory Hurdles For Energy Storage, Transmission, and Solar Projects". U.S. Department of Energy. April 25, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  53. ^ https://www.regulations.gov/document/DOE-HQ-2023-0050-0060
  54. ^ "Docket Number RM21-17-000: Final Rule". Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  55. ^ "Building for the Future Through Electric Regional Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation". Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  56. ^ "Chairman Phillips' and Commissioner Clements' Joint Concurrence on FERC Order No. 1920". Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  57. ^ https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/events/commissioner-led-technical-conference-regarding-large-loads-co-located
  58. ^ https://www.nerc.com/globalassets/our-work/assessments/2024-ltra_corrected_july_2025.pdf
  59. ^ https://www.nerc.com/globalassets/who-we-are/standing-committees/rstc/ras/ero-reliability-assessment-process-document.pdf
  60. ^ https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/DOE%20Final%20EO%20Report%20%28FINAL%20JULY%207%29.pdf
  61. ^ https://www.pjm.com/-/media/DotCom/about-pjm/newsroom/2025-releases/20250502-pjm-chooses-51-generation-resource-projects-to-address-near-term-electricity-demand-growth.pdf
  62. ^ https://blog.advancedenergyunited.org/articles/virginia-governor-greenlights-virtual-power-plant-pilot
  63. ^ No later than December 1, 2025, each Phase II Utility shall petition the State Corporation Commission (the Commission) for approval to conduct a pilot program to evaluate methods to optimize demand through various technology applications including the establishment of virtual power plants. Such pilot program shall evaluate electric grid capacity needs and the ability of such virtual power plants to provide grid services, including peak-shaving, during times of peak electric demand. Such pilot program shall consist of aggregations of distributed energy resources totaling up to 450 megawatts for a Phase II Utility and shall include distributed energy resources located in multiple geographic regions of the Commonwealth. An electric utility may utilize any existing or proposed distributed energy programs as part of the pilot program and to further the development of virtual power plants in the Commonwealth. An electric utility that petitions the Commission for such pilot program shall demonstrate that the utility has evaluated funding opportunities from the U.S. Department of Energy. In furthering the goals of such pilot program, the electric utility shall (i) propose programs of at least 15 megawatts incentivizing residential customers to purchase battery storage devices and (ii) notwithstanding the provisions of § 56-585.1:13 of the Code of Virginia, propose a broader electric school bus program as part of a grid transformation filing no later than December 31, 2027, and the Commission may require competitive solicitation open to utility-owned and non-utility-owned resources. The electric utility shall not own the electric school buses as a part of its proposed program, but such electric utility may own the related storage batteries. The electric utility shall only use the bus storage batteries to access the stored electricity at times when the participating school system determines that the electric school buses are not needed to transport students. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title56/chapter23/section56-585.1:16/
  64. ^ https://www.pjm.com/-/media/DotCom/committees-groups/workshops/llaw/2025/20250509/20250509-item-02---large-load-additions-workshop---presentation.pdf
  65. ^ https://www.sidley.com/en/insights/newsupdates/2025/06/doe-proposes-to-streamline-electricity-export-authorizations
  66. ^ https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/DOE%20Final%20EO%20Report%20%28FINAL%20JULY%207%29.pdf
  67. ^ https://www.pjm.com/committees-and-groups/subcommittees/las
  68. ^ https://www.pjm.com/-/media/DotCom/committees-groups/subcommittees/las/2024/20240729/20240729-minutes.pdf
  69. ^ https://www.pjm.com/-/media/DotCom/about-pjm/who-we-are/public-disclosures/2024/20240718-med-opc-letter-to-pjm-board.ashx
  70. ^ ibid. "The forecast of strong load growth based on many projects that are not firm or committed or even identified at this time creates a risk that if these new loads do not materialize in the anticipated magnitudes or locations or expected times, some of the large investments triggered by the load forecasts might not be used and useful, and under current rules some of the cost of this investment could be imposed on other customers in the zone where the additional load is forecasted and on customers in other zones as well."
  71. ^ Natural Resources Defense Council https://www.nrdc.org/press-releases/cost-slow-walking-clean-energy-pjm
  72. ^ https://jerseyvindicator.org/2025/08/17/power-grid-operator-pjm-launches-fast-track-plan-to-confront-surge-in-data-center-electricity-demand/ The PJM process will center around five focus areas outlined in the board’s letter: Resource Adequacy: The board seeks mechanisms to “ensure large loads can continue to be integrated rapidly and reliably,” without causing shortages in supply. Reliability Criteria: If applicable, “criteria should be established for when this reliability-focused solution is triggered and for when it is no longer necessary.” Interconnection Rules: Stakeholders are encouraged to consider “whether further changes to interconnection rules targeting resource adequacy challenges should be advanced. " Coordination: The board emphasized the need for “proper coordination between PJM and the parties who establish contracts/agreements with large loads, PJM states and impacted customers.” This includes “recognition of jurisdictional boundaries and data center relationships with existing Load Serving Entities and/or Electric Distribution Companies.” Timing: PJM intends for any new framework to be in place in time for the RPM Base Residual Auction for the 2028/2029 Delivery Year. To that end, PJM scheduled an initial workshop for August 18, 2025, with a “target for FERC filing: December 2025” and final “implementation: 2028/2029 BRA.”
  73. ^ https://insidelines.pjm.com/pjm-board-fast-tracks-effort-to-reliably-serve-large-loads/
  74. ^ https://www.pjm.com/-/media/DotCom/committees-groups/cifp-lla/2025/20250818/20250818-item-03---pjm-conceptual-proposal-and-request-for-member-feedback---presentation.pdf
  75. ^ https://www.go15.org/2025/08/22/pjm-launches-process-to-optimize-rules-regarding-data-centers-integration-to-the-grid/
  76. ^ https://www.pjm.com/-/media/DotCom/committees-groups/cifp-lla/2025/20250902/20250902-item-05---lla-cifp-work-plan.pdf
  77. ^ https://epeconsulting.com/epe-intelligence/news/pjm-introduces-a-critical-issue-fast-path-on-large-load-additions
  78. ^ https://www.pjm.com/-/media/DotCom/committees-groups/cifp-lla/2025/20251001/20251001-item-04---cifp---lla-updates---pjm-presentation.pdf
  79. ^ "In response to industry opposition, PJM released an updated proposal (PDF) that buckled to these interests. PJM removed the mandatory NCBL requirement and instead proposed that the NCBL should be voluntary. That means consumers could be fully exposed to data center-driven price hikes in the capacity market. It also proposes creating a new expedited interconnection track for sponsored generation, one more way for gas to cut in front of clean energy in the queue." https://collaborative.evergreenaction.com/memos/pjms-bandaid-proposal-to-address-data-centers
  80. ^ https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-10/403%20Large%20Loads%20Letter.pdf
  81. ^ https://perkinscoie.com/insights/blog/breaking-doe-directs-ferc-fast-track-new-rules-large-load-interconnections
  82. ^ https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-10/403%20Large%20Loads%20Letter.pdf
  83. ^ https://www.fox5dc.com/news/electrical-grid-operator-pjm-votes-against-proposal-help-rein-data-center-energy-costs
  84. ^ https://www.nrdc.org/press-releases/pjm-board-decide-higher-bills-67-million-americans-due-data-centers
  85. ^ https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pjm-stakeholders-data-center-interconnection-cifp/806009/
  86. ^ https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-department-announces-organizational-realignment-strengthen-efficiency-and-unleash
  87. ^ https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-11/Organization-Chart-11.20.2025-2.pdf
  88. ^ https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/11/24/department-of-energy-removes-renewable-energy-climate-offices/
  89. ^ https://www.monitoringanalytics.com/filings/2025/IMM_Comment_Docket_No_RM26-4_20251125.pdf
  90. ^ https://www.nrel.gov/news/detail/press/2025/news-release-energy-department-renames-nrel-'national-lab-of-the-rockies'
  91. ^ "The Critical Issue Fast Path initiative will aim to develop a proposal that could be filed for approval with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by the end of the year, according to the letter. That timing would allow the rules to be in effect for PJM’s 2028/2029 base capacity auction, which is set to be held in June." https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pjm-cifp-fast-track-data-center-large-load/757399/
  92. ^ NERC 2021, p. iv.
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