Overview
- Voting panels failed to pass any of the 12 Critical Issue Fast Path options, leaving no consensus rule as the board reviews input and prepares to announce a path forward.
- The tally is advisory under PJM’s process, which requires more than two-thirds support in each stakeholder sector for a proposal to advance.
- Several defeated plans would have required data centers to secure their own power, including a Protect Ratepayers proposal backed by Sens. Chris Van Hollen, Angela Alsobrooks and Maryland Sen. Katie Fry Hester.
- The fast-tracked effort aims to manage about 32 gigawatts and roughly $163 billion of projected data-center demand through 2030 across the PJM region.
- Lawmakers, consumer advocates and environmental groups link rising Maryland bills and reliability risks to rapid data-center growth and are urging “bring your own clean energy” requirements.