926: Are Data Centers Bypassing the Grid? | Michael Thomas, Cleanview

About this episode

This episode discusses the trend of data centers bypassing the grid and the implications for energy generation and demand.

Are data centers starting to bypass the grid? A growing share of planned projects are pairing with behind-the-meter generation, and the shift has happened quickly. At the same time, there’s still real debate about how much of this will actually materialize. Michael Thomas, founder of Cleanview, tracks what moves through interconnection queues, permitting timelines, and development pipelines. His data highlights how developers are responding to rising demand, tighter timelines, and increasing grid constraints. In this conversation, Michael shares what he’s seeing in the data, where demand is growing fastest, and how different generation strategies are being considered to meet it. If you’re trying to understand how data center growth is shaping project decisions, this episode offers a grounded look at what’s emerging. Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast? Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations. If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/ . Our…

People in this episode

Host: Nico Johnson

Guest: Michael Thomas

Topics covered

• data centers
• grid bypass
• clean energy
• generation strategies
• demand growth

Keywords

• data centers
• grid
• Cleanview
• energy generation
• demand
• interconnection
• permitting

Sponsors

CPS America, Nextpower

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Cleanview, SunCast

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