Energy

What the midterms mean for data center developers in PJM

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 11/11/2026, 14:23:25 UTC.

Briefings

Federal regulators rejected PJM's Interim Resource Adequacy Service proposal in October, shifting curtailment decisions to states and leaving data center developers without a clear path to connect before capacity is available. With midterms underway, new governors are expected to implement guardrails that may vary by state, potentially creating uncertainty for early-stage projects. While some states like Maryland already consider moratoriums, others like Ohio face questions about whether campaign promises translate into policy. Despite the rejection, experts suggest state-level mechanisms may still converge on similar pathways, such as conditional service or behind-the-meter resources, though the political landscape remains volatile.

Key points

• FERC rejected PJM's Interim Resource Adequacy Service proposal in October, shifting curtailment decisions to states and leaving data centers without a clear path to connect before capacity is available.
• New governors are expected to implement guardrails that may vary by state, potentially creating uncertainty for early-stage projects as campaign promises on data center protections translate into policy.

Context

PJM's proposed plan for connecting new large electricity customers was rejected by federal regulators, leaving the region without a clear plan for bringing data centers online before there is sufficient capacity. The rejection shifted responsibility for determining which types of new loads should face curtailment to the states, creating uncertainty for developers as midterms shape new guardrails.

Limitations

Evidence is limited to PJM's rejection of the Interim Resource Adequacy Service proposal and mentions of state-level variations. Specific details on how state mechanisms will converge remain uncertain, and the political volatility in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania limits the ability to predict immediate policy outcomes.

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