Grid Under Strain as Heatwave Hits | Lexington News

Lexington News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 1, 2026 · 1m

The nation’s largest power grid is unleashing emergency measures to survive a scorching heatwave, tapping backup generators—including from energy-hungry AI data centers—to avoid blackouts. Energy Secretary approval kicks off a July 3rd emergency, allowing power plants to temporarily exceed pollution limits under strict oversight. With record-breaking demand expected Thursday and temps soaring past 104°F, PJM has issued maximum generation alerts and urged conservation: crank down thermostats, run appliances later, and use fans. Hospitals stay exempt, but the grid’s survival hinges on every…