2026 Event Schedule

Data center growth is accelerating across the United States, creating new challenges for forecasting, interconnection, transmission planning, and long-term reliability. This session looks at how these incoming loads affect the grid and where they can actually help solve issues we are already working to manage.

Drawing from a national study across all U.S. interconnections, the analysis shows that large data center loads can support system performance when they land in regions that regularly experience renewable oversupply. In those areas, data centers can:

Reduce renewable curtailment and improve system efficiency

• Absorb variable generation during high-output periods
• Ease congestion in several renewable-rich locations
• Support reliability with only modest shifts in systemwide emissions

The discussion focuses on what matters most for planning and operations. We explore the grid conditions that lead to positive impacts, the regions where new load presents challenges, and how to interpret these dynamics during long-term planning, interconnection assessments, and coordination with stakeholders.

Attendees will leave with practical insight into how to plan around rapid data center expansion and how systemwide analysis can help turn a disruptive trend into a strategic advantage for grid reliability and long-term planning.

Session Sponsored by GE Vernova