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Interconnection Queues & the Industrial Buildout

Report · 52 pp Energy · Grid Published Jan 2026 Lead: M. Auer

The binding constraint on new industrial load has moved from generation to connection. A project can secure land, capital, and a power purchase agreement and still wait years for an interconnection agreement. This report quantifies that wait, region by region.

What’s inside

  • Queue depth and average clearing time across major grid operators
  • A ranking of regions by realistic time-to-energize for new heavy load
  • The reform levers that actually shorten queues, and which are being adopted
  • Behind-the-meter generation as a hedge — where it pencils and where it doesn’t
  • A decision framework for siting load against queue risk

The core finding

In several major markets the interconnection queue, not available generation, now sets the timeline for new industrial capacity.

Who it’s for

Developers and investors siting datacenters, fabs, and other heavy load, plus anyone underwriting projects whose schedule depends on grid access.


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