The US Secretary of Energy encouraged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to write new rules that enable large electricity consumers, such as AI data centers and Bitcoin mining operations, to connect directly and quickly to the electricity grid.
In a letter released on Thursday, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright question FERC, the independent agency that regulates the interstate electricity grid, to grant expedited reviews and create standard procedures for large electricity users to hook directly into the high-voltage transmission system, not just local power lines.
The high voltage transmission system has a larger capacity than local lines and is typically used by large industrial facilities that consume power at a higher rate.
“United States electricity demand is expected to grow at an extraordinary pace, due, in large part, to the rapid growth of large loads,” Wright wrote.
“Although there are many drivers of this demand growth, such as home and vehicle electrification, the increasing amount of large commercial and industrial loads, most notably data centers, are rapidly connecting to the transmission system.”
Bitcoin Miners and AI Centers will benefit
S. Matthew Schultz, CEO of Bitcoin Mining Company CleanSpark, said In an X post on Friday that under the rules, FERC is required to speed up connections for “flexible loads like Bitcoin mining and data centers.”
“This is a major signal that the DOE recognizes the value of flexible demand in strengthening the grid,” he said.
Bitcoin miners need significant power to run their mining rigs, which validate transactions and create new blocks. The more miners participate, the higher the hashrate, which helps secure the network.
Reviews can only last 60 days
Under the new rules, Wright suggests that expedited reviews of whether large electricity users can connect will be completed in 60 days, rather than years, if applicants meet criteria such as agreeing to pay for any network upgrades that may be needed.
Related: Bitcoin mining is easier – but not for long, as the hashrate roars back
Wright requested that FERC respond to his letter within the next six months, no later than April 30, 2026.
Bitcoin mining companies and artificial intelligence data centers are increasingly competing for access to cheap, sustainable energy, which it has been suggested could bring renewed institutional investment in the next decade.
Magazine: Binance Shakes in Korea, Morgan Stanley’s Security Tokens in Japan: Asya Express
