VALLEY FORGE, PA – In a collaborative effort to strengthen regional energy planning, market coordination and grid reliability, Pennsylvania Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23), Ohio Sen. Brian Chavez (R-30) and Ohio Rep. Adam Holmes (R-97) convened with PJM Interconnection leadership last month to discuss the evolving electricity market landscape.
All three legislators serve as chairmen of their respective state legislative committees on energy, bringing a shared focus on energy policy and infrastructure development to the discussion. They were joined by Pennsylvania Sen. Dave Argall (R-29), chairman of the Majority Policy Committee, Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-19), minority chairwoman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-21), as well as Steve DeFrank, chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), Jennifer French, chairwoman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and Dennis Peters, PUCO commissioner.
The delegation engaged in a comprehensive dialogue with PJM officials on the future of the electric grid, long-term load forecasts and the critical role of inter-state coordination in addressing rising electricity demand. The visit included a detailed presentation from PJM leadership, a roundtable discussion and a tour of the grid operator’s facility.
“States like Ohio and Pennsylvania play a vital role in ensuring reliable and affordable electricity for millions of residents across the PJM footprint,” Yaw said. “This meeting was an important opportunity to understand the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
“Legislators, regulators and grid managers need to engage in pragmatic conversations to ensure the continued success of our shared electric grid,” Chavez said. “We look forward to a collaborative partnership between our states.”
“Ohio and Pennsylvania have been closely aligned for over 200 years, and we will face these challenges as we always have, with the same unity of effort,” said Holmes.
PJM’s 2025 Long-Term Load Forecast projects a sharp rise in electricity demand driven by data center growth, electrification of buildings and vehicles and manufacturing expansion. Officials reviewed capacity market pricing trends, noting a significant increase in the regional transmission organization (RTO) price from $29/MW-day in 2024/2025 to $269.92/MW-day in 2025/2026.
The group examined PJM’s interconnection reforms and the acceleration of shovel-ready projects through the Reliability Resource Initiative (RRI). Additionally, the conversation addressed state-level strategies to manage affordability and reliability, including retail cost allocation, demand response programs and the permitting processes necessary to support new infrastructure development.
Ohio’s recent passage of House Bill 15, sweeping legislation to encourage the development of electric generation facilities and associated infrastructure such as natural gas pipelines, was also highlighted during the meeting. Pennsylvania lawmakers expressed interest in pursuing similar legislation to ensure the commonwealth remains competitive and prepared for future energy demands. Legislation sponsored by Yaw to improve electric load forecasting was signed into Pennsylvania law as part of the 2025-26 state budget, along with his legislation to repeal the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) electricity tax.
“Our states share a common grid and common goals,” Yaw added. “This meeting reinforced the importance of proactive planning and transparent communication between states and PJM. Our constituents depend on us to make informed decisions that support economic growth and energy security.”
For more state-related news and information, constituents can visit Senator Yaw’s website at www.SenatorGeneYaw.com or follow him on Facebook and X @SenatorGeneYaw.
CONTACT:
Elizabeth Weitzel (Yaw)
717-787-3280
Sarah Swasey (Chavez)
614-466-6508
Tyler Klick (Holmes)
614-644-6014