Large Load Interconnection: Some Legal And Policy Issues

Large Load Interconnection: Some Legal and Policy Issues¹

Introduction: The Challenge

Forecasts of growth in electricity consumption ("load") across the United States are increasing remarkably. In just over the last few years, those forecasts have doubled and tripled.² Much of that growth is attributable to large loads, such as data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations, and other heavy-computing installations, which the President has declared vital to American national security and economic competitiveness.³ Both large energy companies and load developers have made the same point, arguing that "interconnection of new large loads represents a foundational element of the United States' economic prosperity and national security"⁴ and that "continued development of data centers here in the United States [is] a strategic economic and national security imperative."⁵ But at the same time, many existing power generation facilities are retiring. And the timeline to