Unpacking DOE's proposal to transform data center interconnection

About this episode

Last Thursday, Energy Secretary Chris Wright directed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to consider rulemaking to fast-track interconnection for large loads — as long as they agree to be curtailable or colocate with dispatchable generation.

So what does this proposal actually mean for interconnection? 

In this episode, Shayle talks with Allison Clements, former FERC commissioner and current partner with digital infrastructure advisory firm ASG. Allison is also principal of 804 Advisory. Shayle also talks with Tyler Norris, doctoral student at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. Allison, Tyler, and Shayle cover topics like:

How the proposal would standardize interconnection procedures for certain large loads, with study periods no longer than 60 days 

The jurisdictional shift: asserting federal authority over a process traditionally under state purview  

The types of eligible loads, including traditional data centers as well as ones that colocate with generation, also known as “hybrid facilities”

The duration of flexibility and whether 2-hour, 4-hour, or longer durations are needed for curtailment

Whether flexibility resources should be behind-the-meter or front-of-meter

The potential disadvantages for bring-your-own-supply or bring-your-own-VPP

Resources:

Latitude Media: Wright directs FERC to fast track large load interconnection  

Latitude Media: How the world’s first flexible AI factory will work in tandem with the grid  

Latitude Media: OpenAI pushes the White House to invest in the grid to compete with China  

E3: Demand Response as a Capacity Resource in SPP’s Era of Data Center Growth 

Canary Media: In a first, a data center is using a big battery to get online faster 

Credits: Hosted by Shayle Kann. Produced and edited by Daniel Woldorff. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is our executive editor. 

Catalyst is brought to you by EnergyHub. EnergyHub helps utilities build next-generation virtual power plants that unlock reliable flexibility at every level of the grid. See how EnergyHub helps unlock the power of flexibility at scale, and deliver more value through cross-DER dispatch with their leading Edge DERMS platform, by visiting energyhub.com.

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