You Won't Believe How the White House Plans to Combat AI's Shocking 50% Power Price Surge!

The Biden administration is taking decisive action alongside a coalition of bipartisan governors to tackle rising electricity prices and the increasing energy demands of artificial intelligence (AI). This urgency comes as the mid-Atlantic power grid operator, PJM Interconnection, faces pressure to enhance energy supply amidst growing voter concerns ahead of the upcoming elections.

The National Energy Dominance Council at the White House, along with governors from key states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia, are advocating for PJM Interconnection to conduct a power auction. This auction would allow tech companies to bid on contracts for the construction of new power plants, a step seen as crucial for stabilizing electricity prices and ensuring a reliable energy supply.

“Ensuring the American people have reliable and affordable electricity is one of President Biden’s top priorities, and this would deliver much-needed, long-term relief to the mid-Atlantic region," stated Taylor Rogers, a White House spokeswoman.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is expected to attend the White House event, contingent upon the inclusion of a provision to extend limits on wholesale electricity price increases for consumers in the region. However, officials from PJM Interconnection have confirmed that they were not invited to participate in the discussions. “PJM was not invited. Therefore we would not attend,” said spokesperson Jeff Shields.

The call for action is underscored by a significant concern: the energy consumption of data centers that support the burgeoning AI industry. As these centers proliferate, they place a heavy burden on existing electrical grids. Many consumers are already feeling the sting of rising bills, and advocates argue that the current financing models do not guarantee the timely construction of new facilities to meet this surging demand.

Data from consumer advocacy organizations highlight that ratepayers within the mid-Atlantic region—encompassing parts of 13 states including New Jersey, Illinois, and Washington, D.C.—are already incurring billions of dollars in increased electricity costs, primarily to support energy-hungry data centers. Notably, these costs are escalating without corresponding new infrastructure to alleviate the strain.

The stakes are particularly high as critical elections approach. Communities grappling with soaring electricity bills are expected to influence several pivotal contests, tying economic concerns directly to electoral outcomes. In previous elections, electricity costs were a decisive issue, particularly in states like New Jersey and Virginia, where voters expressed significant concern about affordability as they cast their ballots.

In fact, during the first three quarters of 2025, gas and electric utilities sought or secured rate increases exceeding $34 billion, more than double the requests from the same timeframe the previous year, according to the consumer advocacy group PowerLines. This growing financial burden is likely to keep electricity costs at the forefront of voters’ minds as the midterm elections draw near.

As the Biden administration collaborates with bipartisan state leaders to chart a path forward, the focus remains on balancing the needs of consumers and the demands of a rapidly evolving tech landscape. The outcome of these discussions could have lasting implications for energy policy across the mid-Atlantic and potentially set a precedent for how America manages its energy resources in the age of AI.