per grid operator PJM Interconnection:
PJM's outages are higher than the grid planned, Mul added,
saying there is less flexibility in the PJM system than a few years ago
because of power plant retirements and a surge in demand from data centers.
In the above statement, PJM indicates that plant retirements are a primary driver of 'less flexibility' and these outages.
But we also have renewable sources that can't get connected to the grid - which seems like an odd problem to have in the face of plant retirements.
connecting new energy projects to the grid, known as interconnection,
has become a major bottleneck, slowing the deployment of new renewable
energy sources.
ref:
https://www.cfr.org/articles/us-interconnection-challenge-wh...