US electricity demand up, interconnection timelines a bottleneck

U.S. electricity demand is rising for the first time in decades, driven by data centers, electrification, and industrial growth. The surge is putting pressure on the grid pushing for new generating capacity quickly. Long interconnection timelines remain a major bottleneck, often delaying project start dates and introducing unexpected upgrade costs late in the process, federal reforms were introduced to streamline interconnection procedures but are the actually improving the state of interconnection queues? Wood Mackenzie experts explore the above and another topics in '5 key questions about US grid interconnection answered': https://okt.to/O2xo0s

US Grid Interconnection Agreements Hit Record 75 GW in 2024 Amid Federal Reforms The United States recorded its highest-ever volume of grid interconnection agreements in 2024, with capacity surging 33% year-on-year to 75 gigawatts (GW), according to a new report by Wood Mackenzie. The milestone follows the introduction of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order No. 2023 and other regional reforms designed to accelerate the processing of interconnection requests. The report, Tracking the Progress of US Grid Interconnection, highlights that the reforms have begun to ease longstanding bottlenecks by reducing speculative projects and clearing queue backlogs. “We saw a record year in 2024, with 75 GW of secured capacity. 2025 is maintaining this […] Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/dzx34YWQ #solarenergy #alternativeenergy #solarpv #pvsolar #photovoltaic #cleanenergy #cleantech #climatechange #america #ferc #grid #report #woodmackenzie

The U.S. power grid is at a tipping point. 📈 Major hyperscalers are requesting sites requiring 1-5 GW of capacity. ⚡ Grid reliability is under strain, with annual outage hours projected to exceed 800 hours per year by 2030. ⏳ Interconnection queues are clogged, with average wait times hitting five years. 🏛️ New federal policy, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), compresses timelines and introduces stricter elgibility rules for renewable developers. In our latest blog, we cover what you need to know about these four drivers currently reshaping the U.S. power grid. Read Now: https://bit.ly/3VctyfW #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTransition #OBBBA #GridModeling #PLEXOS

With US electricity demand rising for the first time in decades, there is increased pressure to bring new generating capacity online. However, long interconnection timelines have historically been a persistent bottleneck that delay planned online dates and bring last minute upgrade costs. In response, federal reforms were introduced two years ago to streamline the process. But are these changes improving the state of interconnection queues? Our experts explore that question and others in '5 key questions about US grid interconnection answered': https://okt.to/6X5AYm

With US electricity demand rising for the first time in decades, there is increased pressure to bring new generating capacity online. However, long interconnection timelines have historically been a persistent bottleneck that delay planned online dates and bring last minute upgrade costs. In response, federal reforms were introduced two years ago to streamline the process. But are these changes improving the state of interconnection queues? Our experts explore that question and others in '5 key questions about US grid interconnection answered': https://okt.to/O2xo0s

With US electricity demand rising for the first time in decades, there is increased pressure to bring new generating capacity online. However, long interconnection timelines have historically been a persistent bottleneck that delay planned online dates and bring last minute upgrade costs. In response, federal reforms were introduced two years ago to streamline the process. But are these changes improving the state of interconnection queues? Our experts explore that question and others in '5 key questions about US grid interconnection answered': https://okt.to/2hAHvU

With US electricity demand rising for the first time in decades, there is increased pressure to bring new generating capacity online. However, long interconnection timelines have historically been a persistent bottleneck that delay planned online dates and bring last minute upgrade costs. In response, federal reforms were introduced two years ago to streamline the process. But are these changes improving the state of interconnection queues? Our experts explore that question and others in '5 key questions about US grid interconnection answered': https://okt.to/dH1FCT

With US electricity demand rising for the first time in decades, there is increased pressure to bring new generating capacity online. However, long interconnection timelines have historically been a persistent bottleneck that delay planned online dates and bring last minute upgrade costs. In response, federal reforms were introduced two years ago to streamline the process. But are these changes improving the state of interconnection queues? Our experts explore that question and others in '5 key questions about US grid interconnection answered': https://okt.to/vOsZje

⚡ Transmission delays remain one of the biggest risks in renewable energy. That’s why we’re proud that Microgrid Media, with coverage by Jonas Muthoni, recently highlighted TerraPro Solutions for helping developers overcome these bottlenecks. From ROW due diligence to title curative reviews and ALTA survey checks, our early risk scans make the difference between stalled projects and successful ones. 👉 Read the article: https://lnkd.in/g-acF7Xt #RenewableEnergy #Transmission #DueDiligence #ProjectDevelopmentSolved

Can the U.S. get out of its own way? We’re entering the most electricity-intensive era in our history. AI, advanced manufacturing, EVs, and digital infrastructure all depend on a grid that can handle more, respond faster, and recover smarter. Yet, just as demand surges, we’re seeing a pullback on the very policies and systems that could support that future. A few takeaways from a recent Foreign Affairs Magazine article: • Peak electricity demand is projected to grow 18% in 10 years. That’s like adding California, Texas, and New York to the grid • Half of our electric infrastructure sits idle at any given time • The interconnection queue is now double the size of the current grid. Projects are waiting years just to plug in • Federal incentives for wind and solar are being rolled back, even as prices and outages increase There’s a persistent belief that clean energy systems are more fragile, but the reality is that they’re more dependent on intentional design. For instance, when engineered thoughtfully using tools like flywheels, grid-forming inverters, and battery storage, these systems can be just as resilient as legacy power systems. In fact, by incorporating modern forms of inertia and control, they often become more responsive, more modular, and more precise in how they meet demand. We don’t need to pretend renewables can do everything. But we also don’t need to keep protecting outdated systems at the expense of the ones that can move us forward. The future grid isn’t about choosing one tool over another. It’s about designing systems that use all the tools we have. https://lnkd.in/gdbja4rU