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Category: Blog

  • Blog
  • 08 October 2025
  • Hanna Ye

CEBA’s Clean Energy Procurement Academy Launches Inaugural Training in Korea and Indonesia

Recent expansion in line with objective to impact supply chain decarbonization through education

By: Hanna Ye

The Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) recently expanded its Clean Energy Procurement Academy — also referred to as the Academy — to Korea and Indonesia, hosting two in-person trainings in late August. The trainings attracted 50+ supply chain partners of large international buyers focused on reducing their Scope 3 — or indirect — emissions. Policymakers, energy developers, nonprofit think tanks, and other stakeholders involved in the local clean energy procurement sphere came together at the training to share their knowledge and suggestions with workshop attendees, with the goal of enabling more informed and timelier decarbonization actions along the value chain.

Enthusiasm for Clean Energy in Indonesia Despite Limited Procurement Pathway was held over two days in August in Jakarta. There, attendees gained foundational knowledge on the energy system and learned about corporate clean energy procurement mechanisms available in Indonesia, including the latest trends and insights for implementing each mechanism. Despite limited procurement pathways, attendees expressed eager demand to procure clean energy and engaged in conversations on how to navigate common challenges. Speakers from the governmental regulatory body expressed openness in hearing these concerns at the workshop. Later procurement discussions also involved both multinational companies and small businesses to share their learnings on clean energy procurement.

Also in August, the Focus on Education to Action in South Korea workshop was held in Seoul. Attendees followed a similar training structure to that of Indonesia, with a focus on corporate clean energy procurement pathways in Korea, although with more procurement options available than those in Indonesia. Speakers from key stakeholder organizations dived deep into market dynamics, including clean energy procurement and financing mechanisms, cost of available clean energy projects, and outlook on future corporate procurement pathways.

Both workshops incorporated hands-on case studies for participants to gain practical skills and learn from their peers. Academy trainings focus on creating interactive learning and engagement opportunities to help participants better understand and retain the content. The in-person experience also allows participants to make key connections and fosters discussions and collaboration that last beyond the training. 

The Academy will host in-person clean energy procurement trainings in China, Vietnam, Korea, India, and Indonesia throughout the remainder of 2025 and into next year, and will continue to enroll suppliers in digital Academy courses. 

In addition, CEBA is hosting a Regional Spotlight Webinar Series focused on clean energy procurement in APAC markets, including India, Taiwan, Mainland China, Indonesia, and South Korea. Please join us and register here: Regional Spotlight Series — CEBA.

To learn more about the Academy and CEBA’s global efforts, please visit us here: Global Programs — CEBA.

Corporate Demand Drives Clean Energy

By: Misti Groves, SVP U.S. Strategy

Companies that voluntarily buy clean energy play a critical role in clean energy projects being built. Without extensive voluntary commitments by corporate buyers to purchase clean energy, fewer projects will be financed and built, and the U.S. will struggle to meet growing energy demand.  

Over the past decade, corporate clean energy procurement has accounted for more than 40% of new U.S. clean energy capacity additions. Corporate procurement enables companies to meet sustainability goals, hedge against unpredictable energy prices, and support the U.S. electricity grid’s expansion and resilience.  

The U.S. is demanding more electricity than ever, driven by the rise in artificial intelligence, increased electrification, and resurgent U.S. manufacturing. To meet this demand efficiently and cost-effectively, the U.S. needs to build a lot more clean energy — and fast.  

Why Is Corporate Demand for Clean Energy So Important? 

A recent CEBA-commissioned study analyzed the scale of impact that corporate offtake provides. Until now, there have been limited data points to show the extent to which long-term corporate virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) enable energy projects to get financed. This study shows how truly vital corporate offtake is in energy projects being built and bringing energy to the grid.  

A VPPA is a financial contract between a company and a renewable energy project where the company agrees to buy the project’s power at a fixed price, but without taking physical delivery of the electricity, often contracted for 8-15 years. Corporate buyers guarantee a price for electricity, insulating the projects from the ups and downs of market electricity prices and making it possible for projects to get financing. This long price guarantee from the company gives lenders the assurance they need to provide capital for the project.   

Without a corporate buyer, a project’s revenues are dictated by fluctuating wholesale electricity prices, also known as “merchant revenue.” Variability in merchant revenue can lead to periods where projects cannot meet their term debt obligations, resulting in financial distress.  VPPAs – and, to a lesser, but still important, extent, renewable energy certificates (RECs) – are essential instruments to blunt these fluctuations.

VPPAs and RECs Provide Revenue Stability for Clean Energy Buildout 

REsurety analyzed the economic performance of 251 wind and solar projects that operate in three major U.S. energy markets: ERCOT (Texas), MISO (Midwest), and PJM (Mid-Atlantic). Here’s what they found:  

  • Corporate VPPAs slash financial distress by up to 90% in key markets: By hedging against dynamic market prices, VPPAs provided the revenue stability to reduce the number of projects facing financial distress by approximately 80% in ERCOT and over 90% in MISO and PJM compared to the merchant scenario. This stability is critical for securing project financing.
  • RECs reduce incidents of financial distress by up to 30%: While their impact is less substantial than VPPAs, unbundled REC purchases provide an additional revenue stream that can reduce financial distress compared to purely merchant projects. RECs do not directly mitigate wholesale power price volatility. However, higher REC revenue can lead to more significant reductions in financial distress.
Figure 1: Percentage of renewable energy projects that face simulated financial distress (defined as having a negative free cash flow) across different revenue scenarios in ERCOT, MISO, and PJM. The scenarios include revenue from the wholesale market only (Merchant), revenue from the wholesale market plus a $2.74 REC (With REC Offtake), and revenue from the wholesale market plus a VPPA (With VPPA).

Conclusion

Corporate clean energy agreements are essential to the financing and construction of the electricity generation we need. As the demand for electricity continues to surge and the grid requires rapid, cost-effective generation, the continued involvement of corporate procurement is more critical than ever to ensure the necessary clean energy build-out. As load growth continues, corporate participation and recognition are necessary to accelerate clean energy additions to the grid.

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  • Blog
  • 24 September 2025

CEBA at Climate Week NYC

CEBA’s first-ever Member Forum at Climate Week NYC left members feeling inspired, connected, and ready to lead. From policy challenges to corporate leadership, the day showcased the power of collective action in shaping a clean energy future.

Setting the Stage: Progress and Headwinds 

CEBA CEO Rich Powell opened the forum with a candid look at the challenges, wins, and opportunities ahead for corporate clean energy buyers. Since the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, businesses have gained the long-term certainty they need to invest. 

Despite these headwinds, corporate demand continues to rise. As Rich noted: “In 2025, wind is down, solar is flat, but corporate energy customers are buying more than ever before.” Already this year, buyers have announced 18.1 gigawatts (GW) of new clean energy capacity, keeping pace with last year’s record-breaking total and bringing the cumulative total since 2014 to nearly 120 GW. 

To help quantify this impact, CEBA is partnering with REsurety on a forthcoming study that will measure corporate clean energy’s contribution to reducing emissions. 

The Policy Fights Ahead 

Rich also emphasized the urgent need for permitting reform, calling outdated infrastructure rules the single greatest barrier to delivering carbon emission-free power. With bipartisan support, permitting reform could unlock a wave of investment in innovative U.S. energy technologies. But as he reminded members: “The forces of change need to be active and loud. Only then can we deliver the transmission and new generation needed to meet this period of growth with carbon emissions-free energy.” 

He also urged members to make their voices heard during the upcoming Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) revisions — a critical opportunity to shape how corporate climate action is measured. 

Industry Perspectives: Removing Barriers 

In a panel on policy challenges, CEBA’s SVP of Policy, Nidhi Thakar, underscored the organization’s goal: “to provide as many ways as possible to make load growth clean.” 

Industry leaders highlighted the need for “capital, confidence, and certainty” in markets, while panelists called out the “embarrassing amount of time” it takes to bring projects online in the U.S. Their message was clear: policymakers at every level must remove barriers to accelerate deployment. 

Corporate Leadership in Action 

In addition, Misti Groves, CEBA’s SVP of U.S. Strategy, led a panel on corporate leadership. Speakers emphasized that companies must think generationally, build strong internal business cases, and act decisively during today’s critical policy window. 

CEBA forum sponsor and board member Raj Bazaj of Constellation reminded members that collaboration is essential and no company can do this alone. 

What’s Next 

Closing the forum, Markus Walther, CEBA’s Director of Global Clean Energy, Climate & Standards, previewed the GHGP comment period and shared upcoming CEBA resources — webinars, toolkits, and guidance to help members engage effectively. 

The forum was an inspiring start to Climate Week NYC and a powerful reminder that corporate leadership is driving the clean energy transition. 

Follow CEBA on LinkedIn to stay connected, track our presence at Climate Week, and learn how you and your company can help build a low cost, reliable, carbon emissions-free global energy system. 

  • Blog
  • 26 August 2025

Accelerating Clean Energy Procurement in the Asia-Pacific Region Through Improved Power Purchase Agreements

By Camorah King and Emma Saraff

Power purchase agreements (PPAs) are a well-established and scalable mechanism for corporate energy buyers to secure long term, reliable, low-cost clean energy and for governments across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region to attract investment and accelerate clean energy deployment. A new report by the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) and the Asia Clean Energy Coalition (ACEC), Expanding Corporate Clean Energy Procurement Options in the Asia-Pacific Region: Power Purchase Agreements, seeks to support the growth of corporate PPAs in the APAC region.

The report describes how PPAs work, identifies best design practices, and provides recommendations for four key APAC markets: Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, and Vietnam. Physical and virtual PPAs allow corporate buyers to execute long-term contracts with developers or power generators for a price per megawatt-hour of electricity generated from a clean energy project. PPAs are important enablers of increased clean energy development, because they offer developers a stable revenue stream that helps in obtaining financing from banks and investors.

Analysis by the International Energy Agency and the American Clean Power Association found that corporate PPAs have proven to accelerate global clean energy deployment and investment. In the APAC region, PPAs are increasingly being used by corporate buyers to procure clean energy, with a record procurement of 10 gigawatts in 2023. This volume has the potential to grow exponentially if APAC policymakers and regulators integrate these principles into their PPA frameworks:

● Scalable and accessible provisions: PPA frameworks should avoid setting a quota or cap on transaction volumes and offer flexible load size across all sectors, enabling all customers who are ready to transact via a PPA to do so.

● Transparent and competitive market rules and pricing: PPAs should be supported by robust electricity market constructs that ensure cost-effectiveness through third-party access to the grid; competitive and transparent pricing; and fair, detailed, and predictable charges.

● Clarity and flexibility to transact: PPA programs should include clear frameworks for energy attribute certificates (EACs), accounting treatment, and effective settlement mechanisms to support uptake and financial viability.

In the report, these principles are compared with current PPA frameworks in Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, and Vietnam, noting best practices and specific market recommendations that policymakers and regulators can consider, to facilitate corporate PPAs and clean energy development. As global leaders at major energy forums this year discuss advancing clean energy deployment, our report provides tangible solutions to unlock corporate demand and investment.

Corporate buyers seek a diverse menu of cost-effective and impactful clean energy procurement options, including physical and virtual PPAs, utility green tariffs, and unbundled EACs. To ensure procurement mechanisms are well-designed and meet customer needs, policymakers and regulators should undertake transparent and robust stakeholder consultation processes that include early industry feedback. ACEC, CEBA, and our members are eager to provide important resources and perspectives to support increased PPA and clean energy use across the APAC region.

Camorah King is the Clean Energy Buyers Association’s manager of Global Programs, and Emma Saraff is the Asia Clean Energy Coalition’s head of policy for Asia

  • Advocacy Updates
  • 15 August 2025

CEBA CEO Statement on U.S. Treasury Department’s Guidance for Federal Energy Tax Credits

Clean Energy Buyers Association CEO Rich Powell today commented on the U.S. Treasury Department’s guidance for federal energy tax credits:

Today’s timely Treasury guidance for the 48E and 48Y tax credits provides certainty for the business community by honoring existing contracts while maintaining stringent accountability for the appropriate use of taxpayer dollars, which follows the lead of the U.S. Senators who worked hard to deliver and maintain this legislative agreement. Meeting these new standards will be challenging, but we are confident that American energy buyers will help developers rise to the challenge of delivering all sources of power critical to the continued growth of the U.S. economy. 

We recognize the importance of supporting American companies to thrive in a global economy and the vital role that low-cost, reliable, carbon emissions-free energy plays when competing with China. We look forward to working constructively with the administration and Congress on foreign entities of concern guidance and reforming the permitting of energy projects and planning of enhanced and reliable electricity transmission.

  • Advocacy Updates
  • 14 July 2025

America’s Energy Future Demands a Balanced, Bold Approach

By Rich Powell, CEO, Clean Energy Buyers Association

The recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act marks a pivotal moment in America’s energy journey. As CEO of the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA), which represents the largest collective electricity demand in the country — greater than any single state and growing fast — I understand that lawmakers had to navigate complex economic challenges to achieve a compromise between competing visions and priorities for America’s energy and fiscal future.

Whether you support the bill or not, this legislation arrives at a time when America’s electricity demand is surging. From artificial intelligence (AI) data centers to advanced manufacturing, the engines of our economy are increasingly powered by electrons. Meeting this demand is going to be challenging and requires an all-of-the-above strategy — one that embraces innovation, ensures reliability, and accelerates our transition to a carbon emissions-free energy future.

We regret the decision to sunset tax credits for solar and wind — especially at a time when every clean energy option is needed. As the largest buyers of electricity in the country, we keenly understand the dynamics of energy markets. Unfortunately, this decision will drive up electricity prices in the coming years, as most of the projects ready to be built in our country are solar and wind projects.

On the other hand, we recognize and appreciate the bill’s strong support for clean firm technologies like nuclear, batteries, and geothermal. These resources are essential to building a resilient, always-available clean energy grid — particularly as our rapidly growing grid requires more new capacity that can run 24/7/365.

This is the balance our legislators struck after much debate. Businesses now have the certainty needed to plan, invest, and move forward. But it remains imperative that the new law as enacted must be implemented to maintain this business certainty, using standards that have been in place for almost a decade.

So where do we go from here to keep America’s electricity low cost and reliable, while adding more carbon-free resources onto our growing grids?

Permitting Reform Is the Key to America’s Clean Energy Future

Today, the single greatest barrier to delivering the power America needs with carbon emissions-free electricity isn’t technology or cost — it’s our outdated infrastructure permitting system. A radical reassessment of permitting led by a Trump administration focused on economic growth can unlock a wave of investment in innovative American energy technologies. Bipartisan legislative reform will enable a system that is ultimately faster, more durable, and certain enough to unleash the deepest capital markets in the world.

Nearly half of U.S. electricity is already carbon emissions-free. With serious permitting reform and a 21st-century grid, we can finish the job — quickly and responsibly.

For those who favor wind and solar, this is the moment to capitalize on their greatest advantage: speed of deployment, with or without a favorable tax regime. For those focused on new clean firm technologies like advanced fission and fusion, geothermal energy, and long-duration storage, numerous technology-specific permitting issues must be addressed. Also, these resources require an expanded grid to bring electricity from where the rocks are hot, for example, to where Americans want their homes cool.

And for those focused on maintaining a role for fossil energy into a carbon-free future, underground carbon sequestration sites and new pipelines for natural gas and captured carbon dioxide all live and die by their permits.

As a community of buyers keen to deploy ALL of these technologies, fast, we recognize that reforming the way we build infrastructure projects and addressing the current state of our electricity grid are absolutely necessary to reduce emissions while meeting our growing energy demand.

The list of important changes includes issues like streamlining and expediting permitting on lands, building and connecting projects to the grid, and expanding the critical transmission backbone of the United States.

The Trump administration is admirably focused on growing the economy and delivering projects quickly, and we expect it to make deep administrative reforms to the processes for reviewing and approving new projects. But every administration over the last 25 years has made the same commitment — and frankly, failed. Fundamental permitting reform requires real energy legislation, which must move through the regular order process of the U.S. Senate and find 60 votes to pass. This is the moment when Republicans and Democrats must come together to enact fundamental, bipartisan reforms to our energy permitting system that President Trump will sign into law and lead into practice.

America’s energy dominance will be defined not only by how much energy we produce but by how rapidly we build. CEBA and its more than 400 members — spanning one-fifth of the Fortune 500 and representing over $22 trillion in market capitalization — stand ready to partner with policymakers to fundamentally accelerate new energy infrastructure.

The stakes are high. But with bold leadership, we can build an energy system that secures America’s place at the forefront of the global clean energy economy.

  • Advocacy Updates
  • 03 July 2025

CEBA Statement on Passage of One Big Beautiful Bill Act

American energy abundance is needed to meet the ever-increasing demands of a growing American economy

On passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Rich Powell, CEO of the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA), today noted:

“The Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) recognizes lawmakers for their hard work and dedication in advancing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act during a time of complex economic and energy challenges. We recognize the difficult decisions involved in balancing fiscal priorities with long-term national interests.

As the voice of the largest energy buyers in America, whose total demand is greater than any U.S. state and growing fast, we regret that the tax credits for solar and wind are being sunset at a difficult time when we need all energy options to support unprecedented electricity growth in America. We do acknowledge and appreciate the work of President Trump and Congress in expanding the critical policies needed for clean firm energy, such as nuclear, batteries, and geothermal, to support the next generation of carbon emissions-free energy resources.

America’s energy dominance depends on our ability to lead in the technologies of the future and to continue to invest in all forms of clean energy. We urge continued collaboration to ensure carbon emissions-free energy remains a central pillar of our national strategy.

CEBA and its members are excited about President Trump and congressional leaders’ commitment to turning to fundamental reforms to our national permitting system to dramatically speed up new projects. We stand ready to work with them to build an energy industry that enhances U.S. competitiveness, energy security, and economic growth.”

  • Advocacy Updates
  • 17 June 2025

CEO Statement on Energy Credits in U.S. Senate Finance Committee Bill

By Rich Powell, CEBA CEO

The Clean Energy Buyers Association must express disappointment with the outcome of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee’s efforts on energy credits. The early phaseout of tax credits for solar and wind is concerning, since these are the most readily available sources of electricity and essential to winning the artificial intelligence (AI) race and meeting the needs of advanced manufacturing. Pulling back on these resources too quickly will raise electricity prices for American families across the country, reduce economic output by $31 billion, and eliminate 160,000 jobs due to higher energy costs. 

We do appreciate the committee’s efforts to balance the twin goals of ensuring U.S. taxpayers are not subsidizing Chinese manufacturers while rapidly delivering energy to an economy that is critically short of electricity at this important time. 

Preserving American energy credits is a fiscally responsible way for Congress to foster U.S. economic growth, attract private investment, expand domestic energy production, and reduce energy costs for American families and businesses. 

We urge Congress to preserve all clean energy credits to keep electricity low cost and America globally competitive.  

  • Blog
  • 16 June 2025

Clean Energy Buyers Association Releases New Analysis on Technology-Neutral Energy Credits

$31 billion in economic losses would occur across 28 states, with 160,000 jobs lost, if federal technology-neutral energy credits are repealed

The Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) today released additional analysis showing that if federal technology-neutral energy credits are repealed, the gross domestic product (GDP) across 28 states would decrease $31 billion and 160,000 jobs would be lost.

This new data for nine additional states builds on a previous study, Economic Impacts of Repealing Technology-Neutral Tax Credits, commissioned by CEBA and performed by NERA Economic Consulting, which was released last month. That report found that in 19 states, significant job losses, higher electricity and natural gas prices, and lower economic growth would occur if the technology-neutral federal investment (§48E) and the production energy credits (§45Y) are repealed.

“There is no question that removing tech-neutral energy credits would cause economic harm and job losses and drive up electricity prices in more than half the country,” said CEBA CEO Rich Powell. “Preserving these pro-growth energy credits is a fiscally responsible way for Congress to foster U.S. economic growth, attract private investment, expand domestic energy production, and lower costs for American families and businesses.”

Earlier this year, CEBA released a study by NERA Economic Consulting showing that repealing the federal clean energy technology-neutral investment (§48E) and production tax credits (§45Y) would raise average U.S. residential electricity prices by nearly 7% by 2026 — equating to an average yearly increase of more than $110 for American residential customers.

The analysis of the nine additional states released today found that if the federal tax credits were repealed:
• Texas would lose 10,200 jobs and experience a $5.6 billion decrease in state GDP.
• Idaho would experience a $1,920 average loss in annual household income and a $1.4 billion decrease in state GDP.
• Louisiana would experience an 11.3% increase in electricity prices for households and a 13.8% increase in electricity prices for businesses.

New State Findings:

Alaska:
• 600 fewer jobs
• $170 average loss in annual household income
• 0.8% increase in electricity prices for households
• 0.9% increase in electricity prices for businesses
• 2.5% increase in natural gas prices for households
• 4.3% increase in natural gas prices for businesses
• $50 million decrease in state GDP

Idaho:
• 1,470 fewer jobs
• $1,920 average loss in annual household income
• 6% increase in electricity prices for households
• 7.4% increase in electricity prices for businesses
• 4.2% increase in natural gas prices for households
• 6% increase in natural gas prices for businesses
• $1.4 billion decrease in state GDP

Indiana:
• 4,000 fewer jobs
• $190 average loss in annual household income
• 6.1% increase in electricity prices for households
• 7.5% increase in electricity prices for businesses
• 3.2% increase in natural gas prices for households
• 4.4% increase in natural gas prices for businesses
• $1.27 billion decrease in state GDP

Louisiana:
• 520 fewer jobs
• $530 average loss in annual household income
• 11.3% increase in electricity prices for households
• 13.8% increase in electricity prices for businesses
• 2.5% increase in natural gas prices for households
• 6.7% increase in natural gas prices for businesses
• $1.8 billion decrease in state GDP

Montana:
• 590 fewer jobs
• $170 average loss in annual household income
• 8% increase in electricity prices for households
• 9.3% increase in electricity prices for businesses
• 3.7% increase in natural gas prices for households
• 4.1% increase in natural gas prices for businesses
• $190 million decrease in state GDP

North Dakota:
• 810 fewer jobs
• $330 average loss in annual household income
• 6% increase in electricity prices for households
• 8.9% increase in electricity prices for businesses
• 3.3% increase in natural gas prices for households
• 6.4% increase in natural gas prices for businesses
• $380 million decrease in state GDP

South Dakota:
• 1,270 fewer jobs
• $170 average loss in annual household income
• 11.7% increase in electricity prices for households
• 14.6% increase in electricity prices for businesses
• 3.8% increase in natural gas prices for households
• 5.2% increase in natural gas prices for businesses
• $60 million decrease in state GDP

Texas:
• 10,200 fewer jobs
• $290 average loss in annual household income
• 3.9% increase in electricity prices for households
• 6.4% increase in electricity prices for businesses
• 1.8% increase in natural gas prices for households
• 7.3% increase in natural gas prices for businesses
• $5.6 billion decrease in state GDP

Utah:
• 1,250 fewer jobs
• $100 average loss in annual household income
• 4.2% increase in electricity prices for households
• 5% increase in electricity prices for businesses
• 3.5% increase in natural gas prices for households
• 4.8% increase in natural gas prices for businesses
• $280 million decrease in state GDP

The study released in May discussed the adverse economic impacts of repealing the technology-neutral energy credits and how, in the absence of other available technologies, gas generation would try to fill the gap and ultimately result in constrained generation availability and higher economy-wide energy costs. Elevated electricity and natural gas prices would create economic stress that would slow power sector growth, dampening new investment and further constraining energy supply.

Behind the Scenes with MISO: What We Learned on the Grid Operator Tour at CEBA Connect

At CEBA Connect: Spring Summit 2025, a small group of attendees had the rare opportunity to go behind the scenes with the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and get a firsthand look at how the grid operator keeps the power flowing across a vast region — all while navigating the clean energy transition.

“MISO Does its Homework in Public”

That memorable quote from the tour set the tone for what makes MISO so unique. MISO doesn’t own the wires or the power plants — it manages the flow of electricity across 77,000 miles of transmission lines, ensuring reliability for more than 45 million people. Think of MISO as the air traffic controller of the electric grid: coordinating the movement of electricity from where it’s generated to where it’s needed, safely and reliably, 24/7/365.

But unlike air traffic control, MISO’s work is done out in the open — through a collaborative, stakeholder-driven process that brings together utilities, developers, regulators, and clean energy buyers.

Why Grid Planning is So Complex (and Important)

Getting a lot of stakeholders moving in the same direction takes time.

During the tour, MISO staff highlighted one of their biggest current challenges: the interconnection queue. Right now, over 350 gigawatts of new generation are waiting to be studied in the MISO region — an astounding number that reflects growing demand for clean energy and a surge in proposed wind, solar, and storage projects.

To tackle this “queue clog,” MISO has adopted a cluster study approach, grouping similar projects and studying them together at shared grid nodes. This helps streamline the process and makes it more efficient than the traditional “first-come, first-served” method.

Picking Up Speed — But Still Facing Headwinds

Compared to other regional grid operators, MISO has made strides in speeding up its interconnection process. But the scale of interest in clean energy — paired with aging infrastructure and regulatory complexity — means challenges remain.

Still, MISO is moving forward. The organization is focused on balancing three core goals: sustainability, reliability, and affordability. With historic levels of wind and solar integration (including a record solar peak in February 2025), it’s clear MISO is adapting to a new energy era.

A Shared Mission for a Cleaner Grid

For CEBA members, the tour was an important reminder: the energy transition doesn’t just require new technologies or bold climate commitments. It also requires deep collaboration — with grid operators like MISO who are building the future of power, one transmission study at a time. One of the most memorable moments of the tour was getting to see a MISO control room — the nerve center where grid operators monitor conditions in real time and keep the system balanced 24/7. Even better, MISO makes much of this data publicly available on its website, including real-time information on grid conditions, electricity demand, and the current mix of fuel sources. It was incredibly impressive to see that level of transparency and technical sophistication up close. To learn more about MISO and track live statistics check out their website and follow them on LinkedIn and X. A huge shout out to CEBA Connect: Spring Summit Sponsor, Sol Systems, for sponsoring this tour.