High Level

During this week, interconnection reform advanced beyond policy rhetoric into measurable action. MISO’s SUGAR automation pilot demonstrated its ability to compress interconnection study cycles—from nearly two years to ten days—while legal analysis from Morgan Lewis highlighted the potential consequences of unchecked queue delays. These developments collectively signal a shift toward enforcement-ready, tech-enabled interconnection processes.

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MISO Pilots SUGAR Software, Cuts Study Time from 2 Years to 10 Days

·       What happened: At the Infocast Transmission & Interconnection Summit, MISO showcased early results from its SUGAR (Smart Utility Grid Automation Resource) platform, which automates large parts of the interconnection study process.

·       Who did it: MISO, with software support from Enverus and Pearl Street Technologies, spotlighted by FERC Commissioner David Rosner.

·       Why they did it: Facing a backlog of cluster studies taking nearly two years, MISO sought to leverage automation to accelerate processing without sacrificing technical accuracy.

·       Stakeholder views:

•         David Bromberg (VP, Enverus): “It’s been proven that [automation] can happen.”

•         Caitlin Marquis (Advanced Energy United): Interconnection studies are “one of the key barriers to getting generating projects connected to the grid.”

•         Commissioner Rosner (FERC): wrote on March 17, 2025, that automation “reproduced the manual study … in just 10 days… arriving at largely similar results.”

PV Magazine USA, July 1, 2025

FERC Letter, March 17, 2025

PV Magazine USA, March 25, 2025

·       What happens next: MISO will continue pilot testing and refinement. FERC may begin evaluating such automation efforts as part of Order 2023 compliance reviews.

Morgan Lewis Warns Interconnection Delays Threaten Climate and Data Center Goals

·       What happened: On July 1, Morgan Lewis released a white paper outlining how systemic interconnection bottlenecks could impede clean energy deployment and data center expansion—particularly driven by AI demands.

·       Who did it: Morgan Lewis, a prominent energy law practice.

·       Why they did it: To draw attention to the gap between rapid energy demand growth and slow connection processes.

·       Stakeholder views:

•         Report: “An imbalance has emerged between the amount of energy needed to support data centers and the ability to quickly bring energy projects online.”

•         It cautioned: “Even well‑designed reforms will not accelerate the build‑out unless supported by practical tools and oversight mechanisms.”

Morgan Lewis, July 1, 2025

·       What happens next: The paper is likely to inform policy advocacy and regulatory focus on procedural and technological enhancements in queue reform.

What’s the So What?

Interconnection is hard. It requires technical precision, procedural compliance, and broad coordination across utilities, developers, and regulators. But this week’s developments demonstrate that it can be made easier, cheaper, and faster through the right application of technology.

MISO’s automation pilot proves that it’s possible to dramatically reduce interconnection study timelines without sacrificing quality or transparency. That alone is a win for all parties: developers get faster decisions, utilities gain operational clarity, and regulators see measurable progress. Meanwhile, Morgan Lewis’s analysis reinforces that inaction imposes real risks on reliability, investment, and climate outcomes.

Taken together, these stories point toward a pragmatic path forward: leverage digital tools to enhance regulatory frameworks, rather than relying on rules alone. Doing so benefits all stakeholders by accelerating grid access while preserving standards. And as these pilot programs prove successful, it’s likely that similar tools and reforms will extend to other regions. In a moment of deep uncertainty about the future of the energy industry, these efforts show that at least in interconnection, the ball is moving forward.

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