Preserving existing power plants critical, as AI boom threatens to max out electric grid
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 15, 2026) — This week, the Wall Street Journal published a sobering article about the severe electric reliability challenges facing PJM, the nation’s largest power grid that provides electricity to Kentucky and 12 other states across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.
At the heart of the issue is the risk of an acute supply crunch, with “older power plants…going out of service faster than new ones can be built” at the very same time that electricity demand from AI and data centers is skyrocketing. As a result, consumer power bills are rapidly becoming more costly, and the risk of rolling blackouts that endanger households and families is increasing.
Dependable Power First Kentucky has consistently warned about the electricity supply challenges facing our state and the urgent need to maintain an all-of-the-above approach to power generation, including coal, which has long served as the foundation for our state’s electricity mix.
Federal policy is beginning to catch up to reality, but much work remains to undo past harm from previous administrations, and today the risk of a full-blown reliability crisis is greater than ever. As Former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Mark Christie warned, “A few years ago I considered the PJM blackout threat to be on the horizon. Now I’m saying that the reliability risk is across the street.”
Commenting on this week’s news, the Dependable Power First Kentucky coalition said:
“For Kentucky residents and businesses, the risk of a reliability crisis is not a problem that can be kicked down the road. Decisions being made today about power plant retirements and long-term planning will determine whether our Commonwealth can keep the lights on and electricity affordable. We must work together to keep existing, dependable power plants running so the people of Kentucky can continue to enjoy reliable, affordable power.”
This week’s full Wall Street Journal article can be read here: “America’s Biggest Power Grid Operator Has an AI Problem—Too Many Data Centers.”
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Dependable Power First Kentucky works to promote a reliable, resilient, and affordable electricity supply for all Kentuckians by bringing together diverse stakeholders from across the state to shift the conversation around reliability and support policies that achieve this goal. For more information, please visit DependablePowerKY.com.
