U.S. ISO/RTO large-load positioning
A manually maintained view of queue pressure, large-load posture, reform status, and market positioning for data-center and energy-project development.
Current market read
Baseline · June 17, 2026- ERCOT
- SPP
- PJM
- NYISO
- MISO
- CAISO
- ISO-NE
ERCOT and SPP screen as the most favorable large-load markets based on speed, framework clarity, and development posture. PJM, NYISO, and MISO remain mixed because demand is real but rules, queues, or cost allocation are still moving. CAISO and ISO-NE screen as challenged for large-load and data-center development due to queue duration, market size, cost, or siting constraints.
Confidence — High: confirmed by the operator or a primary filing. Medium: reported by a credible secondary source. Low: directional estimate, verify before relying.
What moved this week
Cross-market summary of meaningful changes since the last review.
- PJM.Reform · 2026-06-10 — PJM opened a fast lane. FERC approved a temporary Expedited Interconnection Track for shovel-ready capacity. Qualifying projects sign interconnection agreements within ten months and reach operation within three years, against a standard queue that runs past eight years.
- PJM.Milestone · 2026-06 — PJM runs its 2028/2029 Base Residual Auction this month as it returns to a three-year-forward schedule. The clearing price reads how tight supply has become against data-center load growth.
- SPP.Reform · 2026-06-05 — SPP CHILLS cleared FERC. The Conditional High Impact Large Load Service gives large loads up to seven years of non-firm transmission service if they accept curtailment during grid emergencies while they acquire firm service. SPP now runs a standing non-firm lane for data-center-scale load.
Use this table as a directional market screen. Queue figures, large-load posture, reform status, and author analysis are shown side by side so a reader can quickly compare where development may be easier, harder, or simply less certain.
- Total queue MW
- 453,562
- Large-load MW
- 410,000
- Avg wait (yrs)
- 4.2
- Queue status
- reform-in-progress
- Posture
- Developing
- Changed
- Unknown
- Confidence
- Medium
- Total queue MW
- 151,000
- Large-load MW
- 26,400
- Avg wait (yrs)
- 4
- Queue status
- reform-in-progress
- Posture
- Transparent
- Changed
- Improved
- Confidence
- Medium
- Total queue MW
- 353,000
- Large-load MW
- Not disclosed
- Avg wait (yrs)
- 4
- Queue status
- reform-in-progress
- Posture
- Developing
- Changed
- Unknown
- Confidence
- Low
- Total queue MW
- 26,470
- Large-load MW
- 11,900
- Avg wait (yrs)
- 6
- Queue status
- reform-in-progress
- Posture
- Developing
- Changed
- Unknown
- Confidence
- Medium
- Total queue MW
- 118,800
- Large-load MW
- 55,000
- Avg wait (yrs)
- 8
- Queue status
- reform-in-progress
- Posture
- Developing
- Changed
- Improved
- Confidence
- Medium
- Total queue MW
- 140,000
- Large-load MW
- 4,500
- Avg wait (yrs)
- 9.2
- Queue status
- reform-in-progress
- Posture
- Developing
- Changed
- Unknown
- Confidence
- Medium
- Total queue MW
- 14,000
- Large-load MW
- 110
- Avg wait (yrs)
- 3.7
- Queue status
- reform-in-progress
- Posture
- Developing
- Changed
- Unknown
- Confidence
- Medium
Positioning tiers are the author's analysis based on current queue dynamics, reform status, large-load posture, and policy signals. They are not official ISO ratings.
Selected project signals
Selected publicly announced projects that may signal large-load demand, interconnection pressure, generation needs, transmission investment, or grid-adjacent construction activity.
This is not a complete project database. Inclusion means only that a project is publicly announced or reported and may be relevant to the market screen.
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Under Construction
- Location
- Abilene, TX
- ISO/RTO
- ERCOT
- Est. load
- 1,200 MW
- COD
- Phased; two buildings operational since Sept 2025, remaining six targeted mid-2026
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Under Construction
- Location
- Albany / Abilene, TX
- ISO/RTO
- ERCOT
- Est. load
- 1,400 MW
- COD
- First building H2 2026
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Under Construction
- Location
- Lebanon, IN
- ISO/RTO
- MISO
- Est. load
- 1,000 MW
- COD
- Late 2027 to early 2028
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Delayed
- Location
- Amarillo, TX
- ISO/RTO
- ERCOT
- Est. load
- 11,000 MW
- COD
- Uncertain; construction paused early 2026; first ~1,000 MW targeted end of 2026
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Under Construction
- Location
- Mount Pleasant, WI
- ISO/RTO
- MISO
- Est. load
- 900 MW
- COD
- Phased; Phase 1 ~400-450 MW; build-out approaching ~900 MW; projected up to ~3,300 MW by late 2027 across four buildings
- Type
- Transmission
- Status
- Permitting
- Location
- Ashburn / Leesburg, VA
- ISO/RTO
- PJM
- Est. load
- N/A
- COD
- Targeted in service by June 1, 2028
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Under Construction
- Location
- Barker / western New York, NY
- ISO/RTO
- NYISO
- Est. load
- 200 MW
- COD
- Phased; CB-5 building H2 2026, expansion to 138+ MW by 2028-2029
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Under Construction
- Location
- New Albany, OH
- ISO/RTO
- PJM
- Est. load
- 1,000 MW
- COD
- Targeted online 2026-2027; on-site ~200 MW gas generation targeted Nov 2026
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Under Construction
- Location
- Holly Ridge / Rayville, LA
- ISO/RTO
- MISO
- Est. load
- 5,000 MW
- COD
- Phased through the late 2020s
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Under Construction
- Location
- Homer City, PA
- ISO/RTO
- PJM
- Est. load
- 4,500 MW
- COD
- Phased from 2027
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Under Construction
- Location
- New Carlisle, IN
- ISO/RTO
- PJM
- Est. load
- 2,200 MW
- COD
- Phased; partial operation underway
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Permitting
- Location
- Port Washington, WI
- ISO/RTO
- MISO
- Est. load
- 900 MW
- COD
- Not confirmed
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Permitting
- Location
- Oklahoma — exact site not confirmed, OK
- ISO/RTO
- SPP
- Est. load
- 1,600 MW
- COD
- Power ramps from 2028
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Permitting
- Location
- Kansas City, MO
- ISO/RTO
- SPP
- Est. load
- Not disclosed
- COD
- Not confirmed
Interconnection reform timeline
Dated regulatory and queue-reform actions across U.S. ISO/RTOs. Compiled from the recent reforms and upcoming milestones recorded on each ISO profile.
- ongoingMilestone765-kV Permian Basin backbone
ERCOT developing a 765-kV transmission backbone to support the Permian Basin region's load growth.
Source ↗ - Feb 2027MilestoneNY DPS large-load white paper
DPS staff to convene a technical conference before Dec 31, 2026 and issue a recommendations white paper by Feb 12, 2027.
Source ↗ - Dec 2026MilestonePUCT rulemaking deadline
PUCT must complete SB6 large-load rulemaking (Project 58481/58317) by Dec 31, 2026. After 2026, only large loads with executed interconnection agreements count in the load forecast.
Source ↗ - Dec 2026MilestoneNYISO Board approval / FERC filing
NYISO targets Board approval and FERC filing of large-load interconnection reforms by December 2026.
Source ↗ - Oct 2026MilestoneFirst full cluster study window
Request window for the first full cluster study opens October 2026.
Source ↗ - Aug 2026MilestoneTransitional cluster study completion
First cluster study expected complete by August 6, 2026.
Source ↗ - Jun 2026ReformFERC approves Expedited Interconnection Track
FERC approved PJM’s temporary Expedited Interconnection Track for large, shovel-ready capacity resources. PJM expects qualifying projects to execute GIAs within 10 months and be operational within three years.
Source ↗ - Jun 2026MilestoneBase Residual Auction 2028/2029
Next capacity auction scheduled June 2026 as PJM works to return to a normal auction schedule.
Source ↗ - Jun 2026ReformFERC approves CHILLS non-firm service
On June 5, 2026 FERC approved SPP's Conditional High Impact Large Load Service (CHILLS), providing up to seven years of non-firm transmission service to large loads that agree to curtailment during grid emergencies while they acquire firm service.
Source ↗ - May 2026ReformLarge-load forecast debut
ISO-NE's first large-load forecast appeared in the 2026-2035 CELT Report published May 1, 2026, establishing a framework for tracking data centers and other large loads.
Source ↗ - Mar 2026ReformPUCT draft rule 16 TAC 25.194
PUCT published draft large-load interconnection rule March 12, 2026 requiring $50,000/MW financial security, 5-yr-plus site control, and intermediate agreements before study. Comments due April 17, 2026.
Source ↗ - Mar 2026ReformClass Year Queue Window proposal
NYISO continued refining its proposed class-year queue window to replace current interconnection queue processes; stakeholders still raising prioritization and off-ramp concerns.
Source ↗ - Mar 2026Milestone
- Mar 2026MilestoneConsolidated Planning Process effective
SPP's CPP became effective ~March 1, 2026, sunsetting the interim Priority Process.
Source ↗ - Feb 2026ReformCo-location compliance filings
PJM filed Jan 20 and Feb 23, 2026 compliance proposals establishing a Necessary Studies process requiring co-located generators to bear upgrade costs and adjust Capacity Interconnection Rights.
Source ↗ - Feb 2026ReformHochul 'Energize NY' PSC proceeding
Governor Hochul announced a PSC proceeding to streamline interconnection rules and require data centers driving exceptional demand to cover the grid-upgrade costs they create.
Source ↗ - Jan 2026ReformFERC approves HILL initiative
FERC approved SPP's High Impact Large Load initiative establishing protocols to accelerate large-load interconnection and associated generation while protecting consumers.
Source ↗ - 2026MilestoneTrack 3 second FERC filing
CAISO to file second Track 3 reforms in 2026, with more granular processing timelines for Cluster 16 and future clusters.
Source ↗ - Dec 2025ReformFERC co-location show-cause order
FERC directed PJM to create three new transmission service options for co-located large loads and revise behind-the-meter generation rules to curb cost-shifting.
Source ↗ - Dec 2025ReformSecond ERAS cycle
MISO announced its second Expedited Resource Addition Study cycle (~6.1 GW), primarily battery and gas, to fast-track reliability-critical generation.
Source ↗ - Oct 2025ReformFirst transitional cluster study
Launched first-ready-first-served cluster study of 26 interconnection requests (~8 GW): 21 battery, 3 wind, 2 solar, mostly in Massachusetts. Adds financial and site-control requirements and withdrawal penalties.
Source ↗ - Oct 2025ReformIPE 5.0 draft final proposal
CAISO released Interconnection Process Enhancements 5.0 draft final proposal, refining scoring, deliverability, and readiness reforms.
Source ↗ - Sep 2025ReformRR696 / HILL pathways
SPP Board passed Revision Request 696 in September 2025, paving the way for CHILL service and HILLGA — a streamlined large-load path with ~90-day interconnection agreements.
Source ↗ - Jun 2025ReformSenate Bill 6 signed
Directs PUCT to create large-load interconnection standards, transparency requirements, financial security, and mandatory/voluntary curtailment programs for loads 75 MW+.
Source ↗ - Dec 2024ReformJTIQ portfolio approved
Joint Targeted Interconnection Queue portfolio with SPP approved, enabling ~28.6 GW of generation to interconnect along the MISO-SPP seam.
Source ↗ - Oct 2024ReformZonal interconnection reform approved
FERC approved CAISO's zonal, scored interconnection process applying to Cluster 15, designating merchant zones where developers fund upgrades.
Source ↗
Baseline edition: June 17, 2026. Weekly changes, project signals, and analyst revisions will be added in future updates.