Queued Up 2026 Edition: Characteristics of Power Plants Seeking Transmission Interconnection As of the End of 2025

July 16, 2026

In this webinar, authors present the latest findings from Berkeley Lab's "Queued Up" data analysis, which provides an annual snapshot of U.S. generator interconnection trends.

Electric transmission system operators (ISOs, RTOs, or utilities) require proposed power plants seeking to connect to the transmission grid to undergo a series of impact studies before they can be built. This process establishes what new transmission equipment or upgrades may be needed before a project can connect to the system and assigns the costs of that equipment. The lists of projects in this process are known as “interconnection queues”. As of the end of 2025, over 2,060 gigawatts (GW) of total generation and storage capacity were actively seeking connection to the grid. However, most projects that apply for interconnection are ultimately withdrawn, and those that are built are taking longer on average to complete the required studies and become operational. Data from these queues nonetheless provide a general indicator for future electric capacity additions.