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@xiaowang1984 proposes regulators could require utilities to build 800 MW plants…

2026-08-06 · 17:46 UTC ·@xiaowang1984 ·1 min read

Brief

The post/thread by @xiaowang1984 and Jigar Shah debates proactive regulatory steps to reserve grid capacity for data centers versus the reality of rapid data-center growth. @xiaowang1984 suggests regulators could direct utilities to build 800MW and hold 200MW back, trading rooftop solar for reliability. Jigar Shah notes Ohio AEP builds grew from 100MW to 600MW in four years, AI centers won’t share capacity, and without legally enforceable minimum surplus, 'free electricity' is only a launch-day promise.

Why it matters

@xiaowang1984 proposes regulators could require utilities to build 800 MW plants and reserve 200 MW for grid needs, even if that requires reducing rooftop solar deployment as a tradeoff.

Key details

  • Jigar Shah cites Ohio’s AEP territory buildouts that scaled from 100 MW to 600 MW in four years, arguing AI data centers will consume reserved capacity and are unlikely to share it.
  • Shah warns that without a legally enforceable minimum-surplus requirement, any 'free electricity' guarantee at a data center’s launch is only a temporary, launch-day promise.
Source evidence

Whats up with this passive actor defeatist framing. If regulators were being proactive they might be letting their utilities to be like "hey make that plant 800MW now and save 200MW for us" might need to get less rooftop solar but good trade!

Jigar Shah (@JigarShahDC)

The “excess capacity” math only works if the data center never plans to grow into it. Every real buildout in Ohio’s own AEP territory went 100MW→600MW data center load in 4 years. AI data centers want to consumer it all, they are not looking to share. They want permission to run on.

Without a legally enforceable minimum surplus, “free electricity” is a launch-day number, not a permanent promise.

— https://nitter.net/JigarShahDC/status/2085406767580606966#m