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The Fisk peaker plant in Chicago, owned by NRG Energy, was scheduled for retirement next year but is now being kept operational due to increased electricity demand from AI data centers. This demand has caused electricity prices in the PJM interconnection to rise significantly, making peaker plants like Fisk financially viable.

Approximately 60% of fossil fuel power plants in PJM slated for retirement have postponed their shutdowns this year, with many being peaker units designed for short-term operation during peak demand. While these plants help prevent blackouts, they emit higher pollution levels and incur higher costs compared to continuous power plants.

The growing reliance on peaker plants raises concerns about environmental impacts, particularly in low-income communities where many of these facilities are located. NRG argues that these plants are essential for grid stability, especially as demand from data centers increases.