What’s driving demand—and how energy leaders can stay ahead
It is an exhilarating and demanding moment for energy professionals. In the United States, energy demand has reached unprecedented levels. Capacity auctions are breaking records, resources are constrained, and supply is under immense pressure. Yet, within this volatility lies an extraordinary opportunity to shape the future of living, working, and playing. Judging by how active the EMC association is, the focus for many is mainly on working!
Multiple converging trends are driving this increase, including PJM grid modernization, widespread electrification, and rapid growth in Artificial Intelligence, all of which are reshaping energy demand. Perhaps most striking is the surge in data center development. The EMC24 2025 event host venue sits just across the Potomac River from Northern Virginia’s Data Center Alley, home to what has been referred to as the world’s largest data center market.
According to PJM’s 2025 Long Term Load Forecast, the region is projected to see a 32 Gigawatt increase in peak load between 2024 and 2030. That’s enough to power about 24 million homes! Artificial Intelligence is a major catalyst for this demand growth. Altogether, the surge is reshaping the energy landscape and placing enormous strain on infrastructure and planning.
While electrification attracts attention, natural gas remains a vital component: dependable, versatile, and central to many approaches. Energy providers, including retail companies, utilities, brokers, agents, and consultants, hare the challenge of guiding customers, offering smarter solutions, and balancing objectives from cost efficiency to sustainability.
One promising solution lies in a triangular collaborative approach, aligning third-party retail suppliers, local distribution companies, and end users such as data center facilities or large-scale operations requiring interconnection—along with their energy advisor partners, who help facilitate strategic alignment and informed decision-making. The synergy enables more effective energy system design, streamlined procurement, and shared accountability for sustainability targets.
Still, collaboration alone is not enough. PJM currently faces severe interconnection queue delays, with a backlog of over 2,000 clean energy projects primarily solar, wind, and battery storage projects. These delays, which can stretch beyond five years, threaten grid reliability, and could drive up electricity rates. In early 2023, PJM paused new applications and introduced reforms to accelerate approvals. The backlog is expected to clear by 2026, offering developers faster turnaround times.
Education will play a crucial role. Tools such as Peak Load notifications and Demand Response programs not only help stabilize the grid but also provide customers with a strategic advantage, transforming them from passive consumers into active partners.
The road ahead demands agility, innovation, and bold foresight. The stakes are immense, but so is the potential not only to address today’s energy challenges but also to reshape what’s possible for the future.
By: Olga Curnen, Supervisor of Commercial & Industrial Sales, WGL Energy, https://www.wglenergy.com/s/business
