According to Bloomberg, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright is urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to grant expedited reviews for data-center grid connections. Under the draft rule, reviews would be capped at 60 days, compared with the years such approvals currently take.
If adopted, the measure would mark another step in the Trump administration’s efforts to accelerate data center and AI infrastructure, which it views as strategic assets in the U.S.–China competition.
The proposal would fast-track projects if developers either add new power generation capacity or agree to curtail consumption during periods of grid stress — a clear attempt to preempt pushback from communities hosting large data-center clusters.
Overall, the regulation would be highly positive for our Powering AI and Nuclear portfolios. Faster commissioning of power-hungry data centers would boost electricity demand, benefiting utilities (Constellation, Vistra, Talen…) and commodity suppliers (Cameco…). It would also drive additional investment in new generation capacity, supporting power equipment manufacturers such as GE Vernova and Siemens Energy.
Importantly, the proposed rule reflects growing awareness among U.S. policymakers that regulators and grid operators must be able to disconnect data centers during emergencies — echoing Texas’s recent “kill switch” legislation. This could spur increased investment in on-site backup power generation, including fuel cells (Bloom Energy) and small gas turbines, ensuring AI operations keep running during heatwaves or cold snaps.
