Technical Session: Large Load Impacts on the Bulk Power System

The 2024 WECC Western Assessment of Resource Adequacy highlights that energy demand growth is expected to grow more than 20% over the next 10 years—more than double what was predicted in load forecasts from just two years ago. A major driver for the increase in demand over the next 10 years is the expansion of large loads like data centers, manufacturing facilities, and cryptocurrency mining operations. These large loads pose a significant reliability risk to the grid. For this technical session, panelists will discuss their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of connecting large loads to the Bulk Power System.