Trump backs emergency energy auction to charge data centers for AI power

President Trump and several state governors urge PJM, the grid operator for the US northeast and Midwest, to hold an emergency auction in which large data-centre operators bid to build new power plants and fund about $15 billion in capacity, with tech giants paying for the electricity sold through the auction even if they don’t use it. The aim is to curb rising utility bills driven by data-centre demand amid expectations of a surge in data-centre energy use, though it remains unclear whether PJM will act and how feasible the plan is.