SunCast
SunCast
Nico Johnson
926: Are Data Centers Bypassing the Grid? | Michael Thomas, Cleanview
23 minutes Posted Apr 28, 2026 at 9:00 am.
Challenges Facing Utility Scale Solar
Impact of the AI Data Boom
Persistent Factors Behind the Solar Slowdown
Origin of Clean View and Data Strategy
Regional Winners in the Permitting Race
Market Saturation and Battery Revenue Collapse
How Data Centers Drive Electricity Prices
Rise of Behind the Meter Data Centers
Big Tech’s Advantage in Capital Costs
Overcoming Grid Connection and Upgrade Friction
Structural Challenges of Federal Permitting Reform
Identifying High-Growth Grids and Revenue Opportunities
Dark Horse Winners: Solar and Battery Leaders
State-Level Success with Permitting Reform Bills
Political Backlash and the Data Center Wave
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Show notes

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.

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