Secretary of the Interior and Chairman of the National Energy Dominance Council, Doug Burgum, announced a landmark bipartisan agreement with governors from the Mid-Atlantic region to expand the nation’s energy supply and ensure affordability for consumers. The agreement specifically targets the growing electricity demands of AI-driven data centers, ensuring that costs associated with new power generation are borne by tech companies rather than taxpayers.

Under the initiative, PJM Interconnection—the regional grid operator—will launch an emergency auction to fund $15 billion in new baseload power plants. These plants are designed to meet the increasing energy requirements of high-intensity computing facilities while stabilizing supply and reducing pressure on residential electricity rates.

The plan comes amid a 22 percent rise in PJM capacity prices over the past year, reflecting increased stress on the regional grid from rapidly growing tech-sector demand. By mandating that technology firms cover the costs of new generation capacity, the agreement seeks to prevent these expenses from being passed through to households.

Burgum highlighted the strategic importance of the deal, noting that it strengthens energy dominance while balancing economic and social concerns. “This agreement ensures that the infrastructure required to support cutting-edge innovation does not come at the expense of everyday Americans,” Burgum stated, emphasizing the collaborative, bipartisan nature of the initiative.

The emergency auction will accelerate the development of new baseload plants, which provide stable, continuous electricity generation, complementing renewable sources and supporting grid reliability. Governors participating in the agreement praised the plan as a forward-looking solution to the dual challenges of energy security and the surging demands of next-generation technology.

This landmark effort represents a coordinated federal-state approach to energy policy, blending market mechanisms, private investment responsibility, and strategic planning to meet the demands of a digital economy without burdening ratepayers.