US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to establish new rules allowing large electricity consumers—such as AI data centers and Bitcoin mining operations—to connect directly and more quickly to the power grid.
In a letter released Thursday, Wright urged FERC, the independent agency overseeing the interstate electricity grid, to implement expedited review processes and standardized procedures for major users to tap into the high-voltage transmission system, rather than relying solely on local distribution lines.
The high-voltage transmission network can handle far greater capacity than local lines and is typically reserved for large industrial facilities with heavy power demands.
“United States electricity demand is expected to grow at an extraordinary pace, due, in large part, to the rapid growth of large loads,” Wright wrote.
“Although there are several drivers to this demand growth, such as home and vehicle electrification, increasing quantities of large commercial and industrial load, most notably data centers, are connecting rapidly to the transmission system.”
Bitcoin miners and AI centers stand to benefit
S. Matthew Schultz, CEO of Bitcoin mining firm CleanSpark, noted on X Friday that the proposed rules would require FERC to fast-track grid connections for “flexible loads like Bitcoin mining and data centers.”
“This is a major signal that the DOE recognizes the value of flexible demand in strengthening the grid,” Schultz added.
Expedited grid access could boost Bitcoin miners and AI centers
Bitcoin miners require substantial electricity to run their rigs, which validate transactions and create new blocks. Higher participation increases the network’s hashrate, enhancing security.
Under the proposed rules, Wright recommends that FERC complete expedited reviews for large power users within 60 days—rather than the years such approvals can currently take—if applicants meet criteria such as covering any necessary network upgrades.
Wright has asked FERC to respond to his letter within six months, no later than April 30, 2026.
Bitcoin mining firms and AI data centers have been increasingly competing for affordable, sustainable energy, a dynamic that could attract renewed institutional investment in the coming decade.
