July 8 – Virtual Monthly Meeting
New Data Center Load Challenges
The rise of artificial intelligence and the sudden growth in data center electricity demand are imposing rapid changes to the grid. Utilities and grid operators struggle to bring these enormous new loads online by adding capacity to an already congested system, while simultaneously maintaining both reliability and affordability for customers. For their part, many data center developers are building or buying co-located generating facilities to meet their load needs faster than grid operators can add capacity. Many utilities are proposing new flexible, non-firm service arrangements to accommodate this growing demand and to accelerate “speed to power” for data center customers. Our panel of leading experts will explore the strategies and pitfalls of integrating new data center load onto the grid, share lessons learned from early experience with AI operating behavior, and discuss the potential of a longer-term strategy of relying on customer flexibility as a remedy for alleviating near-term capacity bottlenecks.
About Our Speakers:
CHRIS PILONG, Sr. Director – Operations Planning, is responsible for the Transmission Operations Department, Generation Department and Outage Analysis Technologies Department. These departments perform near-term transmission outage analysis and approvals, generation outage analysis and approvals, annual Black Start Unit commitments, as well as gas-electric coordination, near-term load forecasting, solar forecasting and wind forecasting. Previously, Pilong worked as the director of the Dispatch Department and was responsible for the oversight of the dispatchers who operate and maintain the reliability of PJM’s portion of the Eastern Interconnection. Pilong also worked as the manager of the Reliability Engineering Department at PJM performing day-ahead transmission outage analysis, as well as real-time coordination of grid activities with neighboring RTOs and ISOs. Pilong has a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Lehigh University and a Master of Business Administration from Villanova University.
DANIELLE OSBORN MILLS has over 15 years of experience on complex energy and environmental challenges in California and the West. As Principal for Infrastructure Policy Development for the California ISO, Danielle leads policy initiatives regarding interconnection and transmission and works to ensure alignment with state, regional, and federal policies and processes. Prior to her work with the California ISO, Danielle managed political and regulatory affairs for the west for Pattern Energy Group, and served as the California Director of American Clean Power. In both roles, she worked with global leaders in renewable energy to develop clean energy infrastructure and generation. Danielle also served as Senior Policy Advisor to the Large-scale Solar Association and the Senior Nuclear Policy Advisor at the California Energy Commission. Danielle has a B.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan and her M.P.A. from the University of Washington.
MOTHUSI PAHL is Principal at Hartwell & Loche, where he advises operators, utilities, and boards on energy technology, infrastructure policy, and capital allocation in regulated markets. He serves on the Advisory Council of the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure and on the Board of Directors of the Great Plains Institute. He is a contributor to the Innovation & Infrastructure Review; his work on data centers and the grid appears in Utility Dive and T&D World. The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board devoted a recent column to his analysis of California’s energy markets.
