Power for Tomorrow (PFT) has responded to the Department of Energy's proposal to FERC to speed up how the largest new electricity users, particularly data centers, connect to the grid.

Power for Tomorrow congratulates Commissioners Laura V. Swett and David LaCerte on their appointments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Their leadership comes at a pivotal moment, as electricity demand across the United States continues to climb. Population growth, data centers, and other technologies are all pushing the grid harder than ever. The challenge ahead is clear: how do we build an energy system that is resilient, affordable, and reliable enough to meet this moment?

PFT’s Gary Meltz submitted comments to both the state Department of Environmental Quality and State Corporation Commission, emphasizing that CERC will be crucial in providing reliable backup during periods of peak demand and help reduce the need to import expensive, out-of-state power.

Forbes recently published an article entitled “Natural Gas Harms U.S. Economy And Won’t Solve Rising Electricity Demand,” criticizing the cost and construction times of new natural gas generation and suggesting energy investments be focused on non-dispatchable sources like solar. What this piece fails to take seriously is the magnitude of the energy crisis facing Americans today and the dangers of putting all our eggs in the renewables basket.

A column published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch by Neil Amin, CEO of Shamin Hotels, emphasizes the critical need for reliable, affordable electricity for businesses across Virginia. .

“For more than 40 years, my family has operated a business that never sleeps. From the front desk and the guest services to the housekeeping and the kitchen and conference rooms, Shamin Hotels runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And every part of that operation depends on one thing most people take for granted — reliable electricity…” writes Amin. “Just one outage can damage our revenue, our reputation and the trust we’ve worked so hard to earn and keep. And in hospitality, trust is everything.”

As the federal government explores ways to boost electricity supply for America’s growing data and AI economy, some are advocating for more “competition” through utility deregulation. But as economist Ed Hirs argues in The Hill, this approach is deeply flawed—and the data backs him up.

Data centers are driving a massive surge in electricity demand across the U.S. and well-regulated, vertically integrated utilities are proving better equipped than their deregulated counterparts to handle it. Further, data centers are more interested in working with regulated utilities to develop projects because of these utilities’ commitment to serve customers, willingness to develop just and reasonable pricing, and consistent and practical interconnection requirements, according to a new report from Wood Mackenzie. 

Something is broken in the wholesale markets. And finally, a group of bipartisan governors are calling it out.

The New York Times just laid bare what many of us have warned for years: PJM, the largest grid operator in the U.S.,has become a poster child for how deregulated energy markets fail the public. Bills are skyrocketing. Power plants are retiring faster than replacements are coming online. Promising clean energy projects are stalled in bureaucracy. And worst of all, no one—not even elected governors—seems to have real oversight.

In its formal comments, Power for Tomorrow warns that in the electric sector, promoting competition simply for its own sake risks undermining the Task Force’s stated goals. In fact, many of the states that embraced deregulated “open markets” are now grappling with the highest energy costs and least reliable service.

In a letter sent to Arkansas legislators, Power for Tomorrow Executive Director Gary Meltz, expresses support for Senate Bill 307.

“We back SB307 because it will increase investment in the state’s electric grid, protect Arkansas customers from high power bills, and attract large-scale business investment to the state."

In today’s complex energy landscape, soaring demand is strained by a limited supply of reliable, always-available energy, making it challenging to ensure a resilient grid that delivers power where it’s needed, when it’s needed. Policymakers across the country are tasked with encouraging and signaling the construction of new infrastructure to address existing and future demand. The success of our national goal of energy dominance hinges on our ability to meet the growing power requirements of data centers, AI, and a manufacturing reshoring renaissance, all while keeping energy prices reasonable for consumers.

Across the Southeast, an ever-increasing number of corporations are investing in building large-scale facilities. Key reasons for this economic development are sensible utility regulation and adequate electricity supply in the region. Effective electricity oversight enables utilities and regulators to work together to fully meet our growing energy needs.