The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) is advancing two interconnection initiatives aimed at reducing grid connection delays, as growing data center and industrial demand places increasing pressure on the region’s power infrastructure. The proposals address two major challenges: a significant backlog of generation projects awaiting interconnection approval, and the difficulty in coordinating new electricity demand with the generation and transmission capacity needed to serve it.
The first initiative introduces a 120-day Large Load Addition Resource Study (LARS) for loads exceeding 200 MW that are paired with new generation within the same local resource zone. This could be particularly beneficial for multi-GW data center campuses, where securing sufficient power supply and transmission capacity is a major challenge to developing projects. By studying generation and load together, MISO aims to identify more efficient transmission upgrades, reduce development uncertainty, and provide a faster interconnection pathway for qualifying projects.
Separately, MISO is proposing reforms to accelerate its ~71 GW legacy generation interconnect queue by limiting redundant studies and encouraging nonviable projects to withdraw earlier. Beyond shortening study timelines, these initiatives could improve visibility into which proposed generation and large-load projects are commercially viable, helping MISO distinguish credible developments from speculative announcements and better plan for future electricity demand from data centers.
The urgency is evident in MISO’s growing data center pipeline. In Energy Data Studio, East Daley tracks 67 announced data center projects across MISO, representing 39.5 GW of proposed electricity load (see map above of data centers planned in the MISO service area). By 2031, ~34.5 GW could materialize if all projects scheduled through that year move forward, equivalent to roughly 5.5 Bcf/d of natural gas demand if entirely supplied by gas-fired generation. Major developments include Microsoft’s 2.7 GW Mount Pleasant campus in Wisconsin, representing ~171 MMcf/d of adjusted gas demand, and Meta’s 2.26 GW Project Sucre in Louisiana, representing ~358 MMcf/d of potential gas demand.
Accommodating this demand will require additional generation and reliable transmission infrastructure, particularly as MISO’s generation fleet evolves. East Daley’s preliminary Power Stack, which tracks existing and planned US power generation facilities, projects gas generation capacity in MISO will increase by ~16.2 GW over five years, from 76.4 GW in 2026 to 92.5 GW by 2031. Meanwhile, coal capacity declines by 9.8 GW, from 43.3 GW to 33.4 GW. Solar capacity also increases by 15.5 GW, from 27.9 GW to 43.4 GW by 2031, although this generation source remains dependent on daylight and seasonal conditions. Despite growing solar capacity, natural gas continues to play an important role meeting electricity demand, particularly during periods of limited renewable generation.
Supporting growth will also require additional natural gas infrastructure. In Wisconsin, TC Energy’s (TRP) Wisconsin Reliability project and DT Midstream’s (DTM) Guardian 3 expansion together represent 680 MMcf/d of additional pipeline deliverability, strengthening gas transportation capacity in a region experiencing significant data center investment.
Together, MISO’s interconnect initiatives could help align large-load development with generation and transmission investments while improving visibility into how much announced demand is likely to materialize. Although faster interconnection studies will not eliminate construction delays or transmission constraints, the reforms represent an important step toward accommodating sustained electricity demand growth. Greater clarity on which data center projects will move forward could also help MISO refine its load forecasts and better determine the generation and transmission investments needed to serve future demand. – Kritika Gaikwad Tickers: DTM, TRP.
Data Center Headwinds – Could They Ripple Through Energy Infrastructure?
Data centers are driving expectations for major new power generation projects — but what if projects are delayed? The effects could reach far beyond the data center sector.
Join East Daley on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 10 am MT for a look at how data center headwinds and power generation needs could reshape energy infrastructure and production.
We’ll explore:
- Power demand and project timing: What could delay data center buildouts, and would that affect expected demand for new generation?
- Natural gas infrastructure: Could delays put natural gas projects at risk where data centers and power utilities are the main downstream customers — especially projects already at FID or still in wait?
- Cross-commodity spillovers: If gas demand growth is pushed out, what does that mean for midstream crude and NGL project growth — and for overall hydrocarbon production?
Delays in data center and power project development could ripple through the infrastructure pipeline, changing the timing and scale of investment across multiple commodity markets.
Reserve your spot now to join the discussion.
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