ERCOT’s large-load queue has exploded to 226 GW—nearly 4X last year’s total—with data centers driving 77% of the surge. (Latitude Media)
The crush of requests far outstrips new generation coming online: ~23 GW added this year and another 9 GW expected early next year, intensifying reliability worries.
Many requests appear to be “phantom” loads from hyperscalers shopping multiple sites. Texas passed a 2024 law aiming to crack down on the practice, but the rules won’t be finalized until late next year.
The generation gap: While solar and batteries are surging, the state’s $9B fund to incentivize new gas plants is stumbling. ~35% of proposed gas projects have already withdrawn, citing turbine shortages and permitting delays.