From 209 items, 2 important content pieces were selected

Critical Infrastructure

1. MISO proposes distinct reliability rules for large and computational loads ⭐️ 8.0/10
2. Federal order and Treasury guidance threaten to stall US storage projects ⭐️ 7.0/10

Critical Infrastructure

MISO proposes distinct reliability rules for large and computational loads ⭐️ 8.0/10

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) has filed a proposal, pending Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval, that creates separate regulatory classifications for large loads and for a new subcategory called computational loads. MISO defines large loads as those above 50 megawatts and computational loads as large loads that include at least 25 megawatts of demand from information technology equipment, a threshold designed to single out data centers. The distinction would let MISO apply reliability requirements specifically to computational loads rather than treating all large industrial and commercial loads the same way. The proposal is not yet final; it awaits Federal Energy Regulatory Commission action before it can take effect across MISO’s footprint.

rss · Utility Dive · Sep 1, 13:51

Grid operators grapple with surging large-load interconnection demand Regional grid operators like MISO, which coordinates the bulk power system across 15 U.S. states and Manitoba, operate under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) oversight and must file tariff changes for approval before they take effect. Data center growth has produced large backlogs of interconnection requests with long, uncertain timelines, prompting MISO and other grid operators to develop new large-load and computational-load frameworks, including proposed flexible transmission service options, to manage reliability risk without existing rules tailored to these loads. Historically, transmission planning and interconnection rules treated large industrial and commercial loads similarly, without a distinct category for the high-density, rapidly scalable demand profile of data centers.

What an operator should do Transmission owners and generation interconnection teams within MISO’s territory should review how the 50 megawatt and 25 megawatt thresholds map onto their current and pending interconnection queues, since computational loads may face distinct reliability obligations, such as demand flexibility or curtailment requirements, that ordinary large loads do not. Distribution utilities serving prospective data center customers should flag this filing for their regulatory affairs and interconnection planning functions now, because contract terms and capacity reservations negotiated today may need to accommodate whatever reliability conditions FERC ultimately approves. Data center operators and site selectors in the MISO region should treat this as a signal to engage MISO’s stakeholder process directly, since the definitional line drawn here will determine which projects face additional reliability commitments.

Constraints The proposal requires Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval before it becomes enforceable, and the specific reliability obligations attached to the computational load classification are not yet detailed in the filing as summarized, leaving open how compliance, monitoring, and enforcement would work in practice.

Tags: #grid reliability, #MISO, #data centers, #interconnection policy, #regulatory filing

Federal order and Treasury guidance threaten to stall US storage projects ⭐️ 7.0/10

An August 26 executive order, combined with earlier executive actions and the Treasury Department’s Foreign Entity of Concern guidance, is likely to disrupt battery and inverter supply chains for energy storage projects, according to BloombergNEF analysis cited by Utility Dive. The analyst expects these federal measures to cause delays and cancellations across storage developments in the United States. Specific project counts, capacity figures, and timelines were not detailed in the reporting.

rss · Utility Dive · Sep 1, 15:08

Policy context US battery storage has relied heavily on Chinese-origin cells, inverters and other components, and federal tax credits have underpinned project economics by rewarding developers who could demonstrate construction had begun. The August 26 executive order, EO 14420, gives the Department of Energy new authority to impose conditions on foreign-made equipment already installed in US substations, including Chinese-origin inverters and battery systems, with the Department given 120 days to act. Separately, Treasury’s Foreign Entity of Concern guidance and tightened ‘safe-harboring’ rules raise the bar for what counts as construction start, affecting tax-credit eligibility for storage, wind and solar projects alike.

What an operator should do Utilities and independent power producers with battery storage in their interconnection queues or procurement pipelines should reassess supplier eligibility against the Foreign Entity of Concern criteria now, since sourcing decisions made months ago may no longer qualify for expected tax treatment or may face component shortages. Procurement and regulatory affairs teams should map current battery and inverter suppliers against the new guidance, build contingency timelines for projects dependent on affected supply chains, and flag exposure to state regulators and integrated resource planning processes where storage is assumed to meet near-term capacity or reliability targets. Transmission and distribution operators relying on storage for deferral of grid upgrades should particularly stress-test those assumptions against potential slippage.

Constraints The scale and duration of disruption depend on how strictly the Treasury guidance is applied and enforced, and on whether alternative supply chains can be qualified in time; affected operators face uncertainty until implementation details and enforcement practice become clearer.

Tags: #energy storage, #supply chain policy, #federal regulation, #battery manufacturing, #grid infrastructure