Blog

November 3, 2025

Beyond the headlines: What DOE's FERC directive really means for your project

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has invoked a rarely used provision of the DOE Act to request that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) take jurisdiction over transmission-level large load interconnections (greater than 20 MW). This proposal, currently in the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking stage, aims to standardize processes and set national guardrails for how utilities manage these requests. If adopted, utilities could be required to complete studies for curtailable loads within 60 days, creating faster, more predictable timelines for data center and industrial developers. However, states and utilities are likely to challenge the rule, raising questions about jurisdictional authority and cost allocation that could delay implementation until 2026 or later.

Main vector image of Beyond the headlines: What DOE's FERC directive really means for your project

November 3, 2025

Beyond the headlines: What DOE's FERC directive really means for your project

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has invoked a rarely used provision of the DOE Act to request that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) take jurisdiction over transmission-level large load interconnections (greater than 20 MW). This proposal, currently in the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking stage, aims to standardize processes and set national guardrails for how utilities manage these requests. If adopted, utilities could be required to complete studies for curtailable loads within 60 days, creating faster, more predictable timelines for data center and industrial developers. However, states and utilities are likely to challenge the rule, raising questions about jurisdictional authority and cost allocation that could delay implementation until 2026 or later.

Main vector image of Beyond the headlines: What DOE's FERC directive really means for your project

September 10, 2024

Why We Built the Environmental Reports: Saving Time, Reducing Effort, and Empowering Teams

Introducing Paces' newest feature, the Environmental Report, which automates site screening for renewable energy projects. With 80% of renewable energy projects failing to reach NTP, Environmental Report is designed to empower developers by consolidating critical environmental, zoning, and permitting data into a single, comprehensive report within minutes—helping teams make faster, more informed decisions and avoid costly delays.

September 10, 2024

Why We Built the Environmental Reports: Saving Time, Reducing Effort, and Empowering Teams

Introducing Paces' newest feature, the Environmental Report, which automates site screening for renewable energy projects. With 80% of renewable energy projects failing to reach NTP, Environmental Report is designed to empower developers by consolidating critical environmental, zoning, and permitting data into a single, comprehensive report within minutes—helping teams make faster, more informed decisions and avoid costly delays.

Solar Energy Adoption in NY vs. PA

New York (NY) and Pennsylvania (PA) handle zoning and permitting for community solar projects at the township level, requiring navigation of diverse local regulations. Despite similar administrative structures, NY has a mature solar market with double the installed capacity of PA, which is just starting its first community solar program. We decided to build and analyze a database of township-level zoning ordinances and solar laws to see if this same discrepancy shows up in permitting data.

Solar Energy Adoption in NY vs. PA

New York (NY) and Pennsylvania (PA) handle zoning and permitting for community solar projects at the township level, requiring navigation of diverse local regulations. Despite similar administrative structures, NY has a mature solar market with double the installed capacity of PA, which is just starting its first community solar program. We decided to build and analyze a database of township-level zoning ordinances and solar laws to see if this same discrepancy shows up in permitting data.

January 4, 2024

Siting the Needle in a Haystack: Solar Permitting in Glenn County, CA

Only 5 properties (295 acres) in all of Glenn County, CA are feasible for ground-mount solar when considering interconnection, environmental constraints, and permitting restrictions. Why?

January 4, 2024

Siting the Needle in a Haystack: Solar Permitting in Glenn County, CA

Only 5 properties (295 acres) in all of Glenn County, CA are feasible for ground-mount solar when considering interconnection, environmental constraints, and permitting restrictions. Why?

November 8, 2023

10 GW by 2030: Sizing the New York Community Solar Market from the Local Ordinance Up

Placing state distributed solar goals within the context of local ordinances and zoning codes

November 8, 2023

10 GW by 2030: Sizing the New York Community Solar Market from the Local Ordinance Up

Placing state distributed solar goals within the context of local ordinances and zoning codes

Quantifying Solar Permitting Risk with Large Language Models

Learn how Paces is using LLMs to structure vast amounts of solar zoning legislation.

Quantifying Solar Permitting Risk with Large Language Models

Learn how Paces is using LLMs to structure vast amounts of solar zoning legislation.

From Brownfields to Brightfields

Solar brownfields, long overlooked, are beginning to shine as opportunities for renewable energy development!

From Brownfields to Brightfields

Solar brownfields, long overlooked, are beginning to shine as opportunities for renewable energy development!

From Sheep Farms to Solar Farms

Why sheep farming can have a profoundly positive impact on building solar projects!

From Sheep Farms to Solar Farms

Why sheep farming can have a profoundly positive impact on building solar projects!

Evolution at the Edge: Renewables and the Spatial Configuration of the Grid

Investigating how the spatial configuration of the transmission network has changed with the rise of renewables.

Evolution at the Edge: Renewables and the Spatial Configuration of the Grid

Investigating how the spatial configuration of the transmission network has changed with the rise of renewables.

Renewable Development Blockers

Renewable development is failing to reach its potential. With a <20% success rate for renewable projects with an interconnection queue position, we must confront the blockers to development head-on to have any hope of increasing the rate of successful development.

Renewable Development Blockers

Renewable development is failing to reach its potential. With a <20% success rate for renewable projects with an interconnection queue position, we must confront the blockers to development head-on to have any hope of increasing the rate of successful development.