The US government gives the green light for AI data centers to connect to the grid, requiring operators to accelerate the approval process.

BlockBeats news, on June 19, the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Thursday requested grid operators to accelerate the processing of grid connection applications from data centers and other large electricity users. According to the directive, the six main grid operators must prove that data centers can be connected to the transmission system "in a timely and orderly manner." Data centers are responsible for their own grid connection costs. The resolution was unanimously approved by the commissioners.

FERC also opened space for grid technology startups, requiring grid operators to consider "alternative transmission technologies." Although no specific technologies were named, this directive may cover solid-state transformers or superconducting transmission lines.

Currently, grid operators are required to submit a report within 30 days indicating whether they have available redundancy generation capacity (if any). Within 60 days, they must "justify or revise the pricing system for their respective regions." In addition, FERC instructed grid operators to further support data centers in using "behind-the-meter power" (i.e., user-side self-generation/self-owned power sources).

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