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Weekender: Eversource CEO: ‘We are resisting data centers’

2026-05-09 · 18:00 UTC ·Utility Dive ·5 min read

Brief

Eversource Energy is taking an oppositional stance toward new data center load growth: CEO Joe Nolan said in May 2026 the assets provide “no value” to residential or other customers and will push up rates. That stance sits alongside system-level alarm — NERC issued a Level 3 alert saying computational loads pose “immediate risks” and ordering seven actions by Aug. 3, 2026 to mitigate data center-related load losses. The sector is also wrestling with interconnection and market strain: AEP, with ~63 GW of contracted large load through 2030, is weighing exits from PJM and SPP over slow generation interconnection, while PJM is floating capacity-market overhaul options. Meanwhile, Dominion’s 2.6 GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind has started producing (March 2026), aims for full operation by 2027, and expects about $5 billion in fuel savings over a decade even as Q1 energy costs jumped 67%.

Why it matters

Eversource Energy CEO Joe Nolan said May 2026 that the company is “resisting data centers,” arguing they are “of no value to our residential customer — actually, any customer” and will raise energy prices.

Key details

  • NERC issued a Level 3 alert citing computational loads as “immediate risks,” requiring certain grid participants to complete seven specified actions by Aug. 3, 2026 to address potential data center load losses.
  • American Electric Power is reviewing exits from PJM and SPP amid interconnection delays; its utilities hold contracts for about 63 GW of new large load by 2030.
  • Dominion’s 2.6 GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind began producing some electricity in March 2026, is expected fully operational by 2027, and the company projects roughly $5 billion in fuel savings over 10 years, even as its Q1 fuel and energy-related costs rose 67%.
Cleaned source text

Weekender

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