Where Can You Actually Build?
A decision-making tool for anyone siting data centers, factories, or large energy projects. Real grid capacity data, interconnection timelines, and state-by-state rankings.
2,600+ GW
In US interconnection queues
~5 years
Median time to interconnection
~19%
Queue projects reach operation
$20B+
Annual grid congestion costs
State Grid Capacity Rankings
Sort by:
| # | State ▾ | Industrial Rate ▾ | Interconn. Wait ▾ | Avail. Capacity ▾ | DC Score ▾ | RTO ▾ | Gen. Capacity ▾ |
|---|
RTO / ISO Comparison
PJM Interconnection
Mid-Atlantic & Great Lakes · 13 states + DC
~300 GW
Queue backlog
5–8 years
Avg wait time
Constrained
Capacity (NoVA)
$240/kW
Avg interconn. cost
Key constraints: Northern Virginia data center demand overwhelming DOM zone. Dominion now has 70,000 MW in its interconnection queue, nearly tripled since Jan 2025. Valley Link 765-kV line through 9 counties faces 2,800-member opposition campaign. 2026/27 capacity auction hit record $329.17/MW-day.
Recent: New cluster study process reducing future timelines to 1–2 years
ERCOT
Texas · Single state
~210 GW
Queue backlog
2–4 years
Avg wait time
Medium
Available capacity
~20%
Suspension rate
Key constraints: West Texas export limits for wind/solar. Panhandle congestion. DFW load growth from data centers straining North Texas grid.
Recent: $6.9B CREZ lines completed. $1B+ DC tax incentives approved 2025.
MISO
Midwest & South · 15 states
~280 GW
Queue backlog
4–6 years
Avg wait time
Medium
Available capacity
$5.2B
2022 congestion cost
Key constraints: North-to-south transfer limits. Remote wind generation far from load. MISO South integration seams. Historic congestion cost spikes during extreme weather.
Recent: $10.3B Long-Range Transmission Plan Tranche 1 approved
SPP
Great Plains · 14 states
~150 GW
Queue backlog
4–6 years
Avg wait time
High
Available capacity
$7.7B
Expansion plan (2024)
Key constraints: Wind curtailment in Oklahoma/Kansas panhandles. Limited east-west transfer capacity. High suspension rates in later lifecycle stages (46–79%).
Recent: $7.7B transmission expansion approved Oct 2024
CAISO
California · Single state
~523 GW
Queue backlog
4–5 years
Avg wait time
Low
Available capacity
21.5¢/kWh
Industrial rate
Key constraints: Highest electricity costs in continental US. Severe solar curtailment (duck curve). Congestion in Path 15/26 corridors. Desert renewable zones far from coastal load.
Recent: Cluster study reforms implemented per FERC Order 2023
NYISO
New York · Single state
~120 GW
Queue backlog
5–7 years
Avg wait time
Low
Available capacity
46–79%
IA suspension rate
Key constraints: NYC load pocket severely constrained. Upstate-to-downstate transfer limits. High costs and regulatory complexity. Offshore wind interconnection delays.
Recent: Champlain Hudson Power Express (1.25 GW) under construction
ISO-NE
New England · 6 states
~50 GW
Queue backlog
5–7 years
Avg wait time
Low
Available capacity
16–20¢
Industrial rates
Key constraints: Gas pipeline capacity limits drive winter price spikes. Aging infrastructure. Limited land for new generation. High suspension rates (46–79% at IA stage).
Recent: New England Clean Energy Connect (1.2 GW) progressing
Best Bets: Top 5 Regions for New Builds
#1
ERCOT · Low rates · Scale without moratorium risk
The go-to alternative to Northern Virginia. DFW offers massive scale, competitive energy costs, fast permitting, $1B+ in tax incentives, and strong fiber connectivity. Deregulated market means more options. Central Texas emerging as next frontier.
6.1¢ industrial
155 GW gen capacity
2–4 yr wait time
#2
PJM · Cheaper than Virginia · Available capacity
As NoVA hits constraints, PJM load is shifting west. Indiana and Ohio offer competitive industrial rates, available grid capacity, water resources, and growing DC incentive packages. Proximity to Chicago fiber hub.
7.1–8.2¢ industrial
26–29 GW gen capacity
Medium avail. capacity
#3
WECC · Strong incentives · Uncongested grid
Hot market despite the desert climate. Inexpensive land, strong tax incentives, relatively uncongested grid vs. coastal metros, and major hyperscaler presence (Microsoft, Google, Meta). Liquid cooling investment solves heat concerns.
7.9¢ industrial
30 GW gen capacity
Medium avail. capacity
#4
SERC · Low rates · Abundant water · Growing market
Cheap power, abundant water, strong workforce, and Georgia Power's willingness to serve large loads. No RTO queue delays, bilateral utility model means faster interconnection. Tax incentives expanding.
7.2¢ industrial
38 GW gen capacity
High avail. capacity
#5
SPP / ERCOT · Lowest rates in US · Vast land
Cheapest industrial power in the country (5.4¢ NM, 6.1¢ TX). Massive land availability, growing renewable base, and improving transmission. Best for cost-sensitive operations willing to trade latency for savings. New SPP $7.7B expansion helps.
5.4–6.1¢ industrial
9.5+ GW gen capacity
High avail. capacity
Cost Calculator
What does power cost for your project?
Enter your capacity need, we'll show annual power costs by state using EIA industrial rates
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at
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Known Transmission Bottlenecks
PJM DOM Zone: Northern Virginia
Dominion Energy territory · Loudoun & Prince William Counties
The world's largest data center market has overwhelmed local grid capacity. Dominion Virginia has 70,000 MW of data center requests in queue — only 25,000 MW have connection dates. The 2026/27 PJM capacity auction set a record at $329.17/MW-day. FERC denied PJM's attempt to reject large DC loads outright, but filed new colocation rules. The Valley Link 765-kV line through 9 rural Virginia counties needed to feed Northern Virginia now faces a 2,800-member grassroots opposition campaign, with Louisa County BOF voting unanimously against it.
SEVERITY: Critical, multi-year delays for new large loads
ERCOT West Texas Export Constraints
Permian Basin & Texas Panhandle · Wind/Solar export corridor
Massive wind and solar build-out in West Texas exceeds transmission capacity to eastern load centers. Significant curtailment of renewable generation. CREZ lines helped but new generation outpaced the buildout. Negative pricing events increasingly common in West Texas zones.
SEVERITY: High, curtailment and negative pricing for generators
CAISO Path 15/26 Congestion
Central California · North-South transfer corridor
Critical transmission paths between Northern and Southern California face chronic congestion. Desert solar generation zones (Mojave, Imperial Valley) far from coastal load centers. Duck curve creates severe midday solar curtailment. Highest industrial rates in continental US at 21.5¢/kWh make large-load siting prohibitively expensive.
SEVERITY: High, cost and curtailment barriers
New England Gas Pipeline Constraints
ISO-NE · CT, MA, NH, RI, VT, ME
Limited natural gas pipeline capacity creates severe winter price spikes when heating demand competes with power generation. Industrial rates range 12–20¢/kWh. Aging grid infrastructure and limited land for new generation. Political opposition to new pipeline and transmission projects extends timelines.
SEVERITY: Moderate-High, seasonal price volatility, high base costs
MISO North-South Seam
MISO Midwest to MISO South · Illinois/Indiana to Louisiana/Mississippi
Limited transfer capacity between MISO North and MISO South regions. Congestion costs hit $5.2B in 2022 during extreme weather. Remote wind generation in Iowa/Minnesota far from southern load centers. $10.3B Long-Range Transmission Plan aims to address but will take years to build.
SEVERITY: Moderate, improving with LRTP investment
NYISO Upstate-Downstate Transfer
New York · Central East interface
New York City and Long Island form a severely constrained load pocket. Abundant upstate hydro and wind cannot efficiently reach downstate demand. Complex permitting and high costs for new transmission. Champlain Hudson Power Express (1.25 GW) under construction to bring Canadian hydro to NYC.
SEVERITY: Moderate, major projects underway