The Trump administration is calling upon backup power for data centers before the snowstorm arrives.

The U.S. Department of Energy is now requiring domestic grid operators to access backup power capacity from facilities such as data centers to cope with potential power outages caused by a winter storm this weekend. This is the latest unconventional measure taken by the department to alleviate the issues of power shortages and soaring electricity prices. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in an interview that power suppliers have been instructed to immediately activate backup power from manufacturing facilities, retail businesses, and data centers if electricity demand in the area approaches critical levels that could lead to power outages. Wright said, "During the blizzard, we will do everything we can to ensure power stability and prevent price spikes." He said that the Department of Energy has been planning this measure for months and it may also be implemented during peak summer electricity demand periods. On Thursday, Wright wrote to the Electricity Reliability Coordinating Council and Balancing Authorities informing them that the Department of Energy will access backup power to address what he called a "national energy emergency." These measures are implemented based on a legal authorization that allows the Energy Secretary to control power generation facilities in emergencies to meet electricity demand.