PJM, the regional grid operator for 13 states and Washington, D.C., has announced a new multiyear partnership with Google and Tapestry to improve the process of connecting new generation resources to the grid. The collaboration aims to reduce the time it takes to review and approve interconnection applications, allowing PJM to handle large volumes of requests more efficiently.
This move comes in response to concerns about the reliability of the grid and the potential for capacity shortages in PJM’s service area. These issues have been worsened by rapidly increasing electricity demand, fueled by the growth of data centers and the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
Tapestry, a project focused on transforming the electrical grid, will work with PJM to create new AI-powered tools that will optimize the interconnection process. Google Cloud and Google DeepMind, the AI research lab of Alphabet, will provide the technology for this initiative.
PJM’s goal is to use these advanced planning tools to speed up the connection of new generation resources that are needed to meet future energy demand. Aftab Khan, PJM’s Executive Vice President of Operations, Planning, and Security, highlighted the importance of innovation in meeting the challenges of the future grid, stating that the partnership with Google and Tapestry will help reduce processing times for new service requests.
This collaboration is part of PJM’s broader effort to automate its interconnection planning, a project that began in 2023. Additionally, PJM recently launched the Reliability Resource Initiative (RRI), which aims to fast-track the connection of high-reliability, shovel-ready projects. The initiative has already attracted 94 applications, representing 26.6 gigawatts (GW) of capacity.
The proposed projects under the RRI include upgrades to nuclear and natural gas facilities, as well as new battery storage projects. PJM plans to select up to 50 of these projects using a rating process approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The selected projects will be scored based on their impact on grid reliability and the feasibility of their commercial operation dates.
Concerns about electricity supply in PJM’s service area grew after a capacity auction in July, where electricity prices spiked by over 800%, from $29 per megawatt-day to $270. Several factors, including insufficient transmission planning, the retirement of fossil-fuel plants, and long interconnection queues, have contributed to these price increases.
In response to these challenges, PJM reported that 1,100 MW of generation has chosen to remain operational after previously planning to retire. The grid operator has also supported efforts to redevelop old generation sites. Notable examples include a proposal to convert the former coal-fired Homer City Generating Station in Pennsylvania into a natural gas plant, and a plan to restart the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station (Unit 1) in Pennsylvania, which would add over 800 MW to the grid.
