Across the technology industry and public policy circles, alarm bells have been sounding over the possibility of severe power shortages, exacerbated by the rapid rise in artificial intelligence use. Strikingly, a vast resource of potential power generation—terawatts of fresh capacity—remains tangled in bureaucratic gridlock, awaiting authorization for interconnection to existing grids. Resolving these administrative bottlenecks could significantly mitigate the looming energy crisis.
This congestion plagues grid operators nationwide, but few regions feel the burden as acutely as the vast network managed by PJM. Responsible for distributing electricity across mid-Atlantic states, Ohio, and parts of eastern Kentucky, PJM faces an especially daunting backlog of requests that overwhelms its current administrative capabilities. Now, guided by technological innovation, Google and PJM see artificial intelligence as a possible key to speeding up this complex and lengthy approval process.
Announced recently, this novel partnership brings together Google, PJM, and Tapestry—Alphabet’s innovative “moonshot” venture—committed to developing advanced AI-driven tools. These tools are designed to automate and accelerate several critical elements of the interconnection application process. Centralized digital platforms will enable speedier and more accurate data verification, allowing PJM to swiftly integrate new renewable energy projects alongside existing fossil-fuel sources.
Driven by intense computational demands of AI applications, technology giants have hastened to secure their energy futures. Google, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft are actively investing in significant nuclear and renewable energy projects. Although nuclear has featured prominently in recent high-profile contracts and investments, solar energy has also played a substantial role, with many tech companies aggressively expanding their solar footprints.
While technical and arcane in nature, the existing backlog of interconnection requests impacts real-world energy supply significantly. Across the United States, approximately 2.6 terawatts of generating capacity currently await grid approval—equal to twice the country’s entire existing generating capability.
Within this bottleneck landscape, PJM’s queue stands out starkly. Over 3,000 active interconnection requests representing approximately 286.7 gigawatts of potential energy production languish awaiting further review. Straining under this enormous weight, PJM halted acceptance of new applications in 2022, announcing that processing for new requests will resume only by mid-2026.
Renewable energy projects bear the brunt of delays caused by the overloaded and bureaucratically sluggish process. Over a terawatt each in solar and storage capacity nationwide sits idle, awaiting clearance. Even within PJM’s historically fossil-fuel-oriented territory, renewables and energy storage constitute the majority of the request backlog, with natural gas projects accounting for just 2.4 percent of anticipated new capacity.
For decades, PJM’s grid structure was predominantly fueled by fossil resources, notably coal followed more recently by abundant and inexpensive natural gas from fracking operations. Recent administrative moves by the grid operator, including policy changes, have drawn criticism for seemingly enabling fossil-fueled power plants to maneuver ahead of renewable facilities in the interconnection waiting line.
Upon announcing their new collaborative effort, PJM executives emphasized continued neutrality regarding fuel types, highlighting a commitment to a genuinely impartial interconnection process. Meanwhile, Google reiterates its steadfast dedication to sustainability, stating clearly that these new technological developments align with its ambitious decarbonization commitments.
