Pre-Conference Day

Power scarcity is now the principal limiting factor for Mid-Atlantic data center deployment. This workshop explores how hyperscalers, colocators, utilities, PJM Interconnection, and project partners can collaborate to reduce project delays, unlock shared infrastructure opportunities, and anticipate long-term grid limitations.

This workshop will gather experts to discuss:

• Mapping regional grid capacity across Mid-Atlantic states to identify viable sites earlier, avoid overloaded substations, and inform long-range development pipelines
• Integrating power planning into early-stage development strategy to assess timelines, infrastructure needs, and constraints before committing capital and land
• Exploring shared infrastructure and regional energy partnerships to unlock cost efficiencies and expand capacity options in grid constrained areas
• Creating cross-jurisdictional collaboration frameworks that bring together states, municipalities, utilities, and PJM Interconnection to plan for 5–10 years of sustained load growth

The Mid-Atlantic is now confronting the industry’s most severe misalignment between

data center construction speed and utility infrastructure timelines. This panel will unpack

what needs to change to accelerate energization and reduce costly uncertainty.

This workshop will gather experts to discuss:

• Understanding utility perspective: What underpins successful partnerships?
• Engaging utilities earlier in the site-selection and design process to secure accurate power timelines before capital and land decisions are locked in
• Improving transparency around utility schedules, capacity forecasts, and grid upgrade schedules to enable realistic project planning
• Addressing when interim bridge strategies should be an option to allow construction and commissioning to continue while waiting for long-lead grid infrastructure

As Mid-Atlantic utilities face unprecedented strain, data centers are turning to hybrid

power models, onsite generation, and emerging technologies to secure reliable capacity

and optimize efficiency. This session breaks down which alternative options are viable

across the Mid-Atlantic, which are still emerging, and how to evaluate them without

risking stranded investment.

This workshop will gather experts to discuss:

• Balancing PUE performance, carbon intensity, and capital risk in alternative power investment decisions to determine the long-term ROI
• Exploring how virtual, physical, and community-scale PPAs can hedge long-term energy costs
• Comparing what’s feasible across Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New York where grid constraints, permitting rules, and fuel access vary