Research, analysis, and perspectives on the built world.
FERC will issue the first standardized national framework for large-load interconnection before June 30, 2026, covering any data center project above 20 MW connecting to interstate transmission. This piece explains what the rule is expected to contain -- 100% caused-cost assignment, curtailability options, hybrid facility treatment -- and the five actions developers should take before the order changes the baseline.
June 19, 2026 ·6 min read
Power purchase agreements now determine whether a data center project can be financed at all. This piece explains the three PPA structures (physical, virtual, utility service), why nuclear has become the preferred baseline for hyperscale power, the key PPA terms that drive construction financing, and where AI compresses the diligence and monitoring workflow without replacing the negotiation.
June 19, 2026 ·7 min read
Anchor tenant lease negotiations in 2026 center on power delivery dates, equipment confirmation, and penalty structures. This post breaks down the five-step workflow developers need to complete before committing to power guarantees, including where AI accelerates the analysis and where legal and engineering judgment still governs.
June 18, 2026 ·6 min read
The U.S. data center market has shifted to a power-plus-permission model. This post breaks down a five-stage community engagement workflow, from pre-LOI risk screening through operations transparency, that gives developers a social license before opposition organizes.
June 17, 2026 ·6 min read
AI-assisted construction progress monitoring gives data center owners real-time visibility across field work, off-site fabrication, procurement, and commissioning readiness. This post breaks down the five-step workflow, explains what AI automates versus what requires human judgment, and covers where to start for maximum impact.
June 16, 2026 ·6 min read
Bloom Energy's 2026 Power Report documents a 1.5-2 year utility delivery gap that is widening in Northern Virginia, the Bay Area, and Atlanta. This post explains where the gap comes from, how AI helps development teams model and monitor it, and where human judgment still governs the critical decisions.
June 15, 2026 ·5 min read
O&M handoff transfers custody, documentation, warranties, and maintenance data from developer to operator. Poor handoffs leave operators reconstructing asset registers and missing warranty claims for months. This guide covers the five key documentation packages, where AI helps compile and verify handoff data, and the contract obligations developers should include to enforce handoff quality.
June 13, 2026 ·5 min read
Data center site acquisition has changed structurally: developers who win are completing substantive power and regulatory screening before signing LOIs. This post breaks down the five-step pre-LOI workflow, from geospatial power screening to LOI structure, and explains what AI can automate versus what requires human judgment.
June 12, 2026 ·5 min read
Large load tariffs are now a core diligence item for data center developers because they determine rate class, cost allocation, collateral and exit risk. This guide shows the review order, what AI can monitor and where humans still need to sign off.
June 10, 2026 ·4 min read