PJM has finally greenlit a lot of new clean power. Can it get built?

PJM, the grid operator serving 67 million customers across 13 states, has finally cleared more than 50 gigawatts of solar, wind, and battery projects to connect to its power grid, some after waiting since 2018. That backlog is a big reason electricity has gotten more expensive in this region — the grid can't add power fast enough to keep up with rising demand, much of it from data centers. Getting these already-approved projects actually built could help slow rate increases: one analysis found that adding 10 gigawatts of solar and wind by 2028 could save ratepayers in the region nearly $11 billion over a decade.

But winning approval to connect is not the same as getting built. Utilities still have to complete grid upgrades, which researchers say utilities often delay because they earn more profit from other types of projects. Developers also need permits and contracts to sell their power before they can secure financing. Historically, more than 40 percent of projects that got this kind of approval nationwide have ended up dropping out entirely.

Big tech companies building data centers could speed things along by signing contracts with these already-approved clean energy projects — some states, like New Jersey and Illinois, are pushing data centers to do exactly that. Batteries in particular could get built faster than new gas plants, which face years-long construction backlogs. None of this requires action from individual homeowners, but if these projects move forward, it could mean slower growth in electricity rates in PJM states, which include much of the mid-Atlantic and parts of the Midwest.