Facing a severe winter storm set to sweep across more than half of the U.S. mainland this weekend, the U.S. Department of Energy has ordered grid operators to utilize the backup power generation capabilities of facilities such as data centers during power outages to address electricity shortages and high prices. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that if regional electricity demand approaches levels that could trigger outages, power suppliers should tap into the backup power sources of manufacturing, retail businesses, and data centers.
