An alternative to connecting a large data center load to the electrical grid is a private, fully off-grid energy system, writes Travis Fisher of Cato.

The challenges and opportunities of meeting demand from new large loads like data centers took center stage at the National Association of State Energy Officials’ recent Energy Policy Conference.

Democrats in the New York Legislature have introduced legislation to create a three-year moratorium on the siting and permitting of new data centers statewide.

CAISO wants to ensure grid reliability when artificial intelligence data centers “pulsate.”

Xcel Energy says that a partnership with NextEra Energy will allow its operating companies to contract up to 6 GW of data center capacity by the end of 2027.

EPRI, InfraPartners, NVIDIA and Prologis will assess ways data centers in the 5- to 20-MW range can be built quickly at or near utility substations that have available capacity.

Energy efficiency and load flexibility would be effective and cost far less than the new generation assets many jurisdictions are planning to build to meet anticipated load growth, a new report asserts.

Misguided NIMBYism or corporate welfare either obstructs the building of new data centers or compels taxpayers to subsidize them, writes energy consultant Kenneth W. Costello.

All five FERC commissioners faced questions from the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy on how to balance reliability and affordability as demand grows.

If the incremental costs of serving the new loads are below the current average costs, new demand can actually lower average retail rates as the system costs are spread across a wider base, the report concludes.