Sharp rise in demand: data centres bring power plant in Chicago's 'Czech' district back into play

Rising electricity demand driven by AI data centres in the US is causing coal-fired and other fossil-fuel power plants, previously retired or set for closure, to be brought back into operation, particularly within the PJM Interconnection grid covering 13 states including Chicago. This shift highlights the tension between short-term grid stability needs and long-term energy transition goals, as older plants provide critical flexible backup but emit high pollutants.

This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Clean Energy.