The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved the Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) PJM Interconnections proposal for an expedited interconnection track for large generation projects, in part to meet skyrocketing energy demand from the data center market.. – Getty Images. Under the newly approved process, PJM will consider up to ten interconnection requests every year on a fast-track basis. The projects will need to have a capacity of at least 250MW and be able to come online within three years. The process is slated to last until the end of 2027.. “The EIT proposal will help address PJM’s near-term resource adequacy needs by establishing a separate, time-limited, expedited interconnection process for a limited number of resources that are able to bring significant capacity onto the system in the near-term,” FERC said.. The moves come as PJM grapples to meet huge power demand across its 13-state footprint. The RTO submitted the proposed new track in October. The projects can be of any fuel type, including battery storage systems, and must be sponsored by a state within the PJM coverage area. The first projects could be announced in October.. Due to capacity requirements, applications are likely to come predominantly from natural gas and nuclear projects, especially given the proposed cuts to renewable energy by the current Trump-led administration.. The plants faced significant opposition, with protests filed by clean energy trade groups, the Illinois Commerce Commission, LS Power, the New Jersey Bureau of Public Utilities, Vistra, community organizations, and others.. The proposal is not PJM’s first effort to fast-track new generation assets onto its grid. Last May, the RTO selected 51 projects to take part in its interconnection review process. The projects have a combined capacity of 11.8GW, with gas-fired generation making up 69 percent, followed by battery energy storage (BESS) at 19 percent, nuclear at 12 percent, and coal at 0.1 percent.. According to recent reports, PJM is facing an unprecedented power shortfall over the next decade due to data center demand. Reports suggested that the RTO could face a power supply shortfall of up to 60GW.. More in North America. 14 May 2026. 05 Jun 2026. More in Grid Level. 07 Jan 2026
