Fallen Virginia Power Line Trips 3.1 GW of AI Data Centers, Sends Voltage Spike From D.C. to Chicago

A power line failure outside Washington, DC on July 25 caused more than 3.1 gigawatts of data-center load to disconnect in roughly 30 seconds, sending a 3.49 GW power surplus and voltage spike across PJM from Northern Virginia to Chicago and taking about 11 minutes to stabilize. ON.Energy CTO Ricardo de Azevedo called the incident 'the canary in the coal mine,' noting these events are 'happening more and more.' PJM projects data centers will grow from 6% of its load in 2024 to 24% by 2040, meaning simultaneous defensive disconnects during faults are becoming a systemic grid-stability risk.