Curated reference and analysis. Last full review: June 17, 2026
Verify all figures against ISO sources before relying on them for project decisions.
← Overview
ISO / RTO Profile

NYISO

New York Independent System Operator · New York State
www.nyiso.com/Last updated: 2026-06-17Tier:MixedConfidence:Medium
Bottom line

Fast-growing large-load interest and an active reform push, but high costs, CLCPA clean-energy constraints, and a queue process still being redesigned create timing uncertainty.

Author analysis. Review against primary sources before relying on this for project decisions.

Verified facts and placeholders

Facts
Total queue MW
26,470 MWas of 2026-06-17
Total queue projects
185as of 2026-06-17
Avg interconnection wait
6 yearsas of 2026-06-17
Large-load queue MW
11,900 MWas of 2026-06-17
Queue status
reform-in-progress
Large-load posture
Developing
Generation queue notes
Transitioning from class-year process to a Class Year Queue Window (cluster) concept. New cluster process targets ~50% faster path to construction for projects entering Q3 2024 onward. Methodology changes under review aim to reduce unnecessary upgrade costs.
Large-load posture rationale
Large-load queue grew from 1 GW (6 projects) in 2022 to ~11.9 GW (48 projects) by early 2026, much data-center-related. Gov. Hochul launched a PSC proceeding (Energize NY) to make data centers pay their fair share. NYISO evaluating large-load-specific interconnection reforms.

Analyst read

Editorial analysis
Tier
Mixed
Rationale
Fast-growing large-load interest and an active reform push, but high costs, CLCPA clean-energy constraints, and a queue process still being redesigned create timing uncertainty.
What's working
  • New cluster process targets ~50% faster path to construction.
  • Active state-level effort to clarify cost allocation and speed responsible development.
What's working against
  • High power costs and CLCPA clean-energy mandates constrain generation options.
  • Queue redesign and possible legislative moratorium create regulatory uncertainty.
One thing to watch
The December 2026 NYISO Board approval / FERC filing and whether New York leans toward a data-center moratorium or a structured framework.
Analyst note
New York wants data-center investment but on its own terms: pay your way, fit the clean-energy mandate. The 12x growth in large-load queue since 2022 shows the demand is real. For now it is a watch-and-position market while the rules settle through late 2026.

Major announced projects in this market

Exhibit 2 · supporting
  • TeraWulf Lake Mariner Campus (CB-5)
    Data Center · Under Construction · Barker / western New York, NY
    200 MW
    COD Phased; CB-5 building H2 2026, expansion to 138+ MW by 2028-2029

Recent reforms

Source-backed
  1. 2026-02
    Hochul '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
  2. 2026-03
    Class 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

Upcoming milestones

Source-backed
  1. 2026-12
    NYISO Board approval / FERC filing

    NYISO targets Board approval and FERC filing of large-load interconnection reforms by December 2026.

    Source
  2. 2027-02
    NY 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

Sources & last updated

Provenance
Last updated
2026-06-17
Source registry