麻豆传媒

• Without new clean听energy听development, ACP estimates that ratepayers across nine PJM states would pay an听additional听$360 billion听over the next ten years.听听
• The average residential household听would see听$3,000 to $8,500听in听additional听electricity costs over the next decade.听

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 21, 2026 鈥� Electricity demand across the PJM Interconnection region is growing at an unprecedented pace, driven by rapid expansion of data centers, advanced manufacturing, electrification, and broader economic growth. A听new analysis听by the 麻豆传媒 Association (ACP) finds that without听timely听deployment of听significant听new clean energy resources, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest states face serious reliability risks and dramatically higher electricity costs over the next decade.听

There听is听a听growing mismatch between demand growth and new conventional generation听that听presents an immediate challenge to grid reliability and affordability across the PJM region.听The cost impacts are听substantial. Without new clean energy development, ACP estimates that ratepayers across nine PJM states would pay an听additional听$360 billion听over the next ten years, driven primarily by higher wholesale electricity prices. The average residential household would see听$3,000 to $8,500听in听additional听electricity costs over the听next听decade.听听

The issue of energy affordability听in the Mid-Atlantic听has now moved听squarely听into the political spotlight.听Just last week,听both the听听and听bipartisan group of state governors听called on听PJM听to听take steps to address this听issue.听

鈥淭o keep the lights on and power economic growth, PJM needs resources that can be built quickly, operate reliably, and protect customers听from听surprises听on their electric bills,鈥� said听John Hensley, Senior Vice President of Markets and Policy Analysis at ACP. 鈥淥ur analysis shows that clean energy sources and storage are uniquely positioned to meet near-term demand growth while lowering costs and strengthening reliability for consumers.鈥�听

To evaluate system-wide impacts, ACP modeled PJM under two scenarios: a听base听case, where all generation resources are available, and a听no听new听clean听power听case, where no听new听wind, solar, or storage projects are added beyond those already under construction or required by law. The results show stark differences.听

In the听“no new clean听power case,鈥澨齈JM becomes increasingly reliant on aging, higher-cost fossil fuel generation and imported electricity. Net power imports rise听nearly 300%听by 2035, increasing exposure to fuel price volatility and听operating听hours with extremely high electricity prices. The analysis also finds elevated reliability risks during peak demand periods, when the system is most vulnerable.听

Clean energy resources鈥攊ncluding wind听and听solar鈥攃an be deployed more quickly and听operate听at lower long-term cost.听On average, new electricity loads can be constructed听within one to two years, while new natural gas power plants typically听require听five to seven years to听permit听and build鈥攁nd are currently constrained by limited turbine supply.听Clean energy听resources can听help meet rising demand, support resource adequacy, and stabilize wholesale electricity prices during a critical period of load growth.听

鈥淭hese findings make clear that delaying clean energy deployment comes at a steep cost,鈥� Hensley added. 鈥淭imely investment in wind, solar, and energy storage is essential to maintaining reliability, reducing dependence on imports, and protecting families and businesses from sharply higher electricity bills as demand continues to grow.鈥�听