NEMA Applauds FERC Action to Support Rising Electricity Demand

NEMA welcomes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's action to bring greater transparency and certainty to the process for connecting major new sources of electricity demand and infrastructure to the grid. As demand surges from data centers, advanced manufacturing, and electrification, innovative grid solutions and efficient interconnection policies will be critical to maintaining America's competitive edge. 

"Thank you to Chairman Swett and the Commissioners of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for taking an important step toward improving transparency and consistency in the process for connecting large loads to the electric grid, while recognizing the value of proven grid-enhancing technologies and demand-side solutions that can improve reliability, resilience, and affordability," said NEMA President and CEO Debra Phillips.

"NEMA's electrical manufacturers are innovating to help America meet rising electricity demand by getting more out of the grid we have today, while also building new infrastructure to reliably support our future needs,” said Phillips. “From grid-enhancing technologies and advanced energy management systems to reconductoring and behind-the-meter solutions, our industry is delivering technologies that unlock capacity, improve performance, and accelerate economic growth.

NEMA's recently-released AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework complements FERC's action on interconnection policies by providing a roadmap to improve the efficiency, resilience, and performance of next-generation data centers—helping ensure that new sources of demand are connected and operated as effectively and safely as possible. Together, these efforts help lay the foundation for a stronger, more resilient electric grid.

National Electrical Manufacturers Association |  makeitelectric.org