The U.S. power grid is under great strain to meet the surging electricity demands of data centers and manufacturers. Large-scale grid infrastructure project development for both transmission and generation must be intensified to ensure a reliable and secure energy supply.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently launched the Speed to Power initiative to accelerate the pace of large-scale grid infrastructure project development and meet projected increases in electricity demand. The agency seeks public input and information from state energy offices, public utility commissions, electric utilities and other stakeholders on large-scale generation projects that can help meet this goal. Emphasis is placed on projects that can support up to 20 GW of incremental load.

“In the coming years, Americans will require more energy to power their homes and businesses – and with President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Energy is ensuring we can meet this growing demand while fueling AI and data center development with affordable, reliable and secure sources,” said Energy Secretary Chris Wright. “With the Speed to Power initiative, we’re leveraging the expertise of the private sector to harness all forms of energy that are affordable, reliable and secure to ensure the United States is able to win the AI race.”

As an aid for determining regional power supply balances, the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory and DOE have developed an interactive data viewer to optimize data center siting decisions. The map can help pinpoint siting constraints and opportunities by providing information on power plants, transmission lines, fiber-optic cables and other power system components and considerations.