PJM ordered emergency "backstop" procurement to bridge a 6.6 GW reliability gap. (Utility Dive)
PJM’s board directed immediate action after the recent auction failed to clear sufficient capacity, signaling a potential shift toward tighter market interventions—like price collars—to shield ratepayers from volatility.
A new framework creates a bifurcation for projects >50 MW: Those that bring their own generation get fast-track interconnection, while those relying solely on the grid face strict curtailment protocols.
The pressure: The directive follows a coordinated statement from the Trump administration and 13 governors demanding the RTO prioritize consumer protection over market signals amidst the data center boom.