Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Four GOP lawmakers want FERC to allow data centers to locate near nuclear plants, clashing with the commission's Republican members.
Why it matters: FERC voted 2–1 last month to reject a proposal to pave the way for Amazon to build a data center next to Talen Energy's Susquehanna nuclear plant in Pennsylvania and draw power directly from it.
- Commissioners Mark Christie and Lindsay See, both Republicans, voted to reject the proposal, finding that the grid operator failed to show why the proposal was necessary.
- Critics of such an arrangement, including neighboring utilities AEP and Exelon, fear that diverting existing power would raise costs for other customers and threaten making the grid less reliable.
What they're saying: Reps. Bob Latta, John Joyce, and Jeff Van Drew wrote to FERC to register opposition to FERC's decision.
- "We are concerned that this rejection could create uncertainty for other investments that may be currently under consideration in data centers and the AI they support," they wrote.
- "We hope that you will do all within your power to remove this uncertainty and develop uniform and workable rules that enable the innovative load connections needed for our country to win the AI race against China and others."
- Rep. Jay Obernolte wrote a separate letter that data center co-location "does not have to come at the expense of grid reliability."
Our thought bubble: FERC rarely reverses decisions because of congressional pressure. But its initial Susquehanna decision is far from the final word on the issue.
- Talen has requested a rehearing, and the commission has eight other pending proceedings that similarly involve a large customer co-locating with a power plant.
