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Utilities tell committee they can meet traditional growth but large data‑center requests require new generation and transmission
Summary
Power companies and cooperatives told the committee their incumbent portfolios can handle routine demand growth, but large data‑center and industrial requests (some utilities cited thousands of megawatts in inquiries, an Apply Digital 280 MW contract was announced) will require new gas, renewables plus transmission investments and possibly deferred retirements of thermal units.
A panel of North Dakota and regional power companies and cooperatives described how traditional customer growth is modest for many utilities but that large‑scale inquiries from data centers and industry could change planning and require accelerated generation and transmission investments.
Benjamin Hertz of Basin Electric said Basin’s base planning forecasts about 2.5% compound annual growth in its footprint driven by oil and gas and residential expansion, but the cooperative is tracking potential large loads…
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