AI and Data Center Demand have reached a critical inflection point, moving from mere projection to contracted, gigawatt-scale reality that requires immediate action. We analyze the $1.6 billion federal financing surge supporting 24 GW of projected load and examine how FERC staff are linking technical compliance (like wildfire risk) to crucial cost-effective cost recovery approvals. With 5.2 GW of capacity secured by real estate players, the urgency is now focused on rewriting slow interconnection and cost allocation frameworks to match this unprecedented speed. Tune in to understand the strategic shifts in financing, regulation, and technology (including the vital need for digital core modernization) required to manage this generational transition and translate investment into stable long-term revenue.

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