economy
January 16, 2026
Trump and Mid-Atlantic governors want tech companies to pay for new power plants
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TL;DR
- The Trump administration and bipartisan governors are urging PJM Interconnection to hold an emergency power auction.
- The auction aims to spur the buildout of new power plants through 15-year contracts.
- This initiative addresses increasing electricity demand from AI and data centers, alongside rising electricity rates.
- PJM operates the largest electricity grid in the US, spanning 13 states.
- The Department of Energy advocates for data centers to pay more for new generation or curtail usage.
- The proposed auction could generate $15 billion in new power generation.
- The Trump administration's energy policy has favored coal, gas, and nuclear power while hindering wind and solar farms.
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