US Energy Secretary Pushes for Faster Power Grid Access for AI and Bitcoin Miners
Energy Secretary Chris Wright urged FERC to create rules accelerating power grid access for large users like AI and Bitcoin miners from years to 60 days.Summary
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright formally requested the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to establish new rules that would drastically cut the connection time for large electricity users, such as AI data centers and Bitcoin miners, from several years down to just 60 days. The proposal requires these companies, needing over 20 megawatts, to fund necessary grid upgrades in exchange for rapid approval. This action is driven by exploding electricity demand, projected to see data centers consume up to 12% of US power by 2028, creating bottlenecks under current multi-year approval processes. Bitcoin miners, who can offer flexible load balancing, stand to benefit significantly, aligning with the Trump administration's pro-crypto economic strategy. However, the proposal faces pushback from environmental groups concerned about emissions, policymakers questioning FERC's jurisdiction, and consumer advocates worried about rising electricity costs.
(Source：Brave New Coin)