Gas and Coal Shouldered PJM’s Record Heat-Wave Demand as Solar Stalled
During the early summer heat wave, PJM’s electricity load spiked to near-record levels, with gas and coal generators providing the extra power while solar and wind output stayed flat.
A severe heat wave this summer drove PJM’s load to near-record levels, approaching the all-time high set in 2006. To meet the surge, gas plants increased output to 55 GW and coal stations lifted generation to 24 GW, while nuclear remained steady at 32 GW and renewables held at about 7 GW. The U.S. Department of Energy responded with its third emergency order of the year, temporarily relaxing emissions limits on coal facilities and permitting curtailment of large data-center loads if necessary.
Neighboring grids, including New York’s operator and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, also urged customers to limit air-conditioning and large-appliance use during peak hours. The episode highlights growing strain from expanding data-center demand in PJM’s territory, especially in Northern Virginia, and underscores the need for more dispatchable generation to handle future heat waves.
Why it matters
It shows how reliance on fossil-fuel plants remains critical as heat waves and data-center growth stress the U.S. power grid.
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