The Trump administration is taking emergency action to help prevent blackouts across mid-Atlantic states as an intense heat wave drives electricity demand to near-record levels.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Tuesday issued emergency orders directing grid operator PJM Interconnection to maximize available power generation, including dispatching additional fossil fuel-fired plants and, if necessary, activating backup generation sources that normally remain offline because of environmental restrictions.

The action came after PJM warned the Energy Department that soaring temperatures could create emergency conditions threatening electric reliability and public safety.

PJM projected electricity demand would approach record levels Tuesday and climb even higher Wednesday, raising the risk of power shortages.

"The forecasted demand raises a significant risk of emergency conditions that could jeopardize electric reliability and public safety," Michael Bryson, PJM's senior vice president for operations, wrote in a letter to the Energy Department.

Wright's emergency order allows PJM to tap additional generation from certain fossil fuel plants despite normal emissions restrictions. It also authorizes the grid operator to direct backup power resources to "operate as a last resort" if electricity supplies become strained.

The National Weather Service has warned that several locations across the eastern United States could shatter all-time heat records this week, sending air-conditioning use surging and placing added stress on the power grid.

In a statement to The Hill, Wright said ensuring Americans have reliable electricity during the heat emergency is the administration's top priority.

"Maintaining affordable, reliable, and secure power in the PJM service territory is non-negotiable," Wright said.

He added that the Energy Department is "using every available tool ensuring Americans in the Mid-Atlantic have continued access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy to power and cool their homes."

PJM, which originally coordinated power transmission in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland, now oversees the electric grid serving all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia.

The emergency order comes as the Trump administration continues to emphasize expanding reliable domestic energy production, arguing that dispatchable power sources such as coal and natural gas are critical to maintaining grid stability during periods of peak demand.

PJM has also reportedly faced growing pressure in recent months as electricity demand has climbed, driven in part by the rapid expansion of energy-intensive data centers.