US energy secretary calls for grid access for BTC miners, AI data centers

The U.S. Secretary of Energy has argued that Bitcoin mining operations and AI data centers should be allowed to directly access the power grid designated for large industrial facilities. In a letter sent to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the nation's grid regulator, the secretary urged the agency to grant this access, Cointelegraph reported. The secretary has requested a response from FERC by April 30, 2026.