Faster and Cheaper: Demand-Side Approaches for Rapid Load Growth

The United States has entered a new era of electric load growth driven by data centers, industrial onshoring, and the electrification of space heating, transportation, and industry. But with families struggling with energy affordability, it’s critical to alleviate this demand quickly and cheaply. Join us as we discuss a recent ACEEE report revealing how energy efficiency and load flexibility offer a less expensive, faster, cleaner, and overall less risky approach to load growth than traditional supply-side resources. We will share practical examples of how community energy resources allow utilities and large load customers, including data centers, to work together to improve affordability and resilience. We will also provide a real-time perspective on the regulatory issues surrounding load growth and offer attendees the opportunity to ask leading technical and policy experts their questions on how efficiency and flexibility can help alleviate the challenge of rising demand.