Power diligence guide

How to find 20–100 MW of data center power

To source 20–100 MW, compare documented utility-service options, power-related positions, powered land, and viable on-site generation against the same load, reliability, and phase dates. Treat 2028 as a target requiring written evidence of capacity, dependencies, and delivery milestones, rather than an assumption that a region or queue has power available.

By Volterra Advisors · Last updated October 31, 2026

Data center cooling infrastructure at sunset — Data center infrastructure illustration.

Run four sourcing paths against one load brief

Define the requirement before searching. Separate critical IT load from total facility demand, initial from ultimate MW, and firm from conditional service. State the ramp, redundancy, voltage, operating profile, and target dates consistently.
Ask utilities for site-specific options. Confirm the service territory, existing infrastructure that could support the request, proposed connection, phased service, studies, and upgrades. Request a written response and the next decision milestone, not a general market availability statement.
Evaluate actual request rights. For an existing position, verify the applicant, load or generation process, studies, obligations, and rules on changing ownership, location, design, or demand. A generator queue position is not itself a customer load-service commitment.
Test powered-land claims. Match the parcel and proposed connection to the utility evidence, service documents, land rights, costs, and initial/full-load dates. Substation proximity is an investigation lead, not proof of usable MW.
Evaluate BTM as a separate power project. For behind-the-meter generation, verify permitted operating mode, fuel supply, equipment delivery, emissions, noise, maintenance, reliability, and any grid-import or interconnection conditions. Emergency backup equipment should not be assumed suitable or permitted for continuous primary service.

What can reasonably support a 2028 target?

Prioritize options whose utility can substantiate the required phases and whose outstanding work can be scheduled. Compare a smaller first phase or a different ramp with the full-load case. Treat missing study results, uncommitted upgrades, or an unpermitted generation plan as open dependencies.

Use official guidance within its actual scope
Reference	Supported planning context	Limit
Dominion’s current Virginia data-center guidance	Below 50 MW, projects can frequently use existing distribution infrastructure and typically require 1–2 years from initial planning conversations.	Utility-specific guidance, not a national estimate or assurance that any proposed site can serve by 2028.
Dominion guidance for loads above 50 MW	Transmission extensions and a new substation will most likely be required.	No universal completion interval is supplied. Obtain the actual utility plan; confirm treatment of a request at the boundary.
ERCOT’s September 24, 2026 notice	Verification also applied to specified substantiated data-center loads of at least 25 MW but below 75 MW.	Being below 75 MW does not establish exemption from every requirement. The notice’s submission dates are historical.

A forecast year, modeled study case, or advertised capacity number is not an allocation of power to a particular buyer. Confirm that the written service evidence fits the requested facility demand and dates.

Request a comparable evidence package

For each candidate, request the utility response, load and ramp assumptions, latest studies, service or interconnection documents, upgrade costs, security requirements, land rights, permits, and a dependency schedule. For BTM, add the fuel, equipment, operating, and air-authorization evidence; EPA and TCEQ provide official permitting resources.

Use the powered-land comparison and the power due-diligence checklist. The deliverable power definition helps keep a marketing MW claim separate from the project’s actual service requirement.

Frequently asked questions

Can 20–100 MW be promised by 2028 from a regional search alone?

No. A credible target needs site-specific utility evidence or a documented generation plan, phased MW, the remaining dependencies, and delivery milestones supporting the requested dates.

Does Dominion’s 1–2 year guidance apply nationally?

No. It is Dominion’s published Virginia guidance for projects below 50 MW that can frequently use existing distribution infrastructure. It does not establish service availability for another utility or site.

Does a generator queue position provide power to a data center?

Not by itself. Verify the position’s actual rights and separately establish the load-service or co-location pathway, operating conditions, and required agreements.

Can BTM remove every utility and permitting dependency?

No. Confirm the operating design, permitted use, fuel and equipment, reliability requirements, and any remaining grid connection or import conditions for that project.

What should be compared across candidate sites?

Compare the same facility demand, phased dates, service conditions, remaining cost, studies, land rights, and execution dependencies. Do not rank sites solely by an advertised MW figure.