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US DOE Activates Emergency Power Order in Mid-Atlantic During Heatwave

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The US Department of Energy on Tuesday authorized the deployment of emergency backup power across the Mid-Atlantic as heatwave conditions increase the risk of blackouts.

The order allows PJM Interconnection to use backup generation resources at data centers and other large facilities to support grid reliability during the heatwave.

PJM requested the emergency action on May 17 after rising electricity demand combined with seasonal transmission and generation outages tightened regional power supplies.

"The Trump administration is committed to unleashing all available power generation needed to keep Americans safe amid the heatwave," Energy Secretary Chris Wright said.

He added that the Trump administration "will continue taking action to ensure that untapped backup generation can be deployed in the mid-Atlantic region as needed during the heatwave and in the future."

The Department of Energy said over 35 gigawatts of backup generation capacity currently remains unused across the US.

The DOE issued three emergency orders in February to keep Florida's power grid stable after unusually cold temperatures increased the risk of blackouts across the state.

Trump declared a national energy emergency on his first day in office, saying that prior energy policies had left the US power grid more vulnerable to outages.

The order will remain effective from May 18 through May 20, while the Department of Energy said US power outages currently cost consumers about $44 billion each year.

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