As data centers upend electric grids, the largest operator in the US is facing down a revolt from state officials

On a quiet road in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, not far from the field where George Washington’s starving soldiers waited out the winter in 1778, sits the headquarters for PJM Interconnection, the largest electrical grid operator in the United States. Inside, operators wage war against inclement weather and power surges, ensuring that electricity is reliably delivered to 65 million customers across 13 states and the District of Columbia. The control board looks like something out of a disaster movie — covering the walls and stretching nearly from floor to ceiling — but, by design, it’s a pretty drama-free environment.

As the U.S. grapples with a surge in electricity demand, however, that may be changing.

In late September, governors from 11 of PJM’s member states banded together in Phila