Near Misses Instill Fears Over Widespread Data Center-Induced Blackouts

Data centers nearly caused widespread blackouts in Virginia last summer, one of a series of near misses across the U.S. as data centers strain regional power grids.

On July 10, without warning, 60 data centers in Northern Virginia all disconnected from the power grid at once and switched to backup generators — an automated safety response to voltage fluctuation caused by an equipment failure on a nearby transmission line, Reuters reported Wednesday. 

The result was a massive surge in excess electricity that sent both grid operator PJM and utility Dominion Energy scrambling to cut generation quickly enough to avoid damage to infrastructure and potentially regionwide blackouts...

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RSK: I never thought of this being a problem but I guess it is like accelerating to 120 mph and suddenly slamming on the brakes...something bad is going to happen.