RE+ 2025: What We Heard on Policy, Power, and Partnerships

Last week in Vegas, RE+ once again proved why it’s the clean energy industry’s biggest stage. Developers, investors, policymakers, and innovators gathered to chart the path forward with conversations reflecting both optimism and urgency. Policy shifts, capital flows, and data center demand are reshaping how projects get built. Our team was on the ground, listening and engaging with partners across the ecosystem. Here’s what stood out.

1. Policy & Market Shifts

Policy changes set the tone for RE+, shaping everything from supply chains to capital flows. Developers are still digesting the impact of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) and the Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) rules, both of which are changing incentives and compliance requirements. Storage and nuclear look positioned to benefit, while smaller developers may find it harder to keep pace.

“Most technologies still have a viable path forward, but the rules are more complex. They’ll require greater sophistication and capital to navigate.”

— Tony Wagler, Solutions Engineer

At the same time, the market is moving toward consolidation and optimization. Capital is flowing into batteries, with developers recycling assets and prioritizing long-term flexibility.

“From standalone storage to solar-plus-storage, capital and developers are chasing flexibility and long timelines.”

— Stu Pomeroy, Partnerships

Takeaway: The rules of the game are shifting quickly, but opportunities remain for sophisticated, well-capitalized players.

2. Capital & Customer Reality

Despite new policy hurdles, conversations at RE+ reflected cautious optimism. Developers are moving forward, but resource constraints mean teams are being stretched. Analysts and project managers are being pulled into later-stage work, often taking on multiple roles to keep projects advancing.

“Even with momentum, developers are under pressure to stretch resources. Teams are keeping people on but shifting analysts into later-stage work and wearing more hats to keep projects moving.” — Erica Mack, Account Executive

For novel technologies, the conversation centered on bankability. Lenders and investors want proof that solutions are reliable before they can scale, putting pressure on developers to find tools that speed up diligence and reduce risk.

“Novel technology partners are hungry for tools that can help prove bankability, expedite diligence, and accelerate development.” — David Lyons, Account Executive

Takeaway: Developers are optimistic but realistic; efficiency and adaptability will determine who can scale.

3. Real Estate & Due Diligence

Real estate advisors and brokers are playing an increasingly central role in the clean energy and data center boom. With projects changing hands more frequently, questions about asset quality and viability are front and center. Buyers want confidence that what they’re acquiring can stand up to scrutiny.

“Buyers are moving quickly on projects, but there’s still hesitation. They’re asking, ‘How do we know if what we’re acquiring is actually viable?’”

— Will Evans, VP of Sales

That means due diligence is no longer a box to check. It’s the foundation for trust in transactions and the key to keeping the market moving.

Takeaway: Speed is important, but trust and transparency in project diligence are what unlock growth.

4. Power & Large-Load Queues

‍A major theme at RE+ (and Yotta, a data center-focused conference happening at the same time) was how utilities are handling the flood of large-load interconnection requests, especially from data centers. Timelines advertised as 6 months can stretch to 18, and new multimillion-dollar deposits are being used to filter serious applicants. Some utilities are even piloting “curtailable queues,” where projects accept short, pre-scheduled outages in exchange for faster energization.
 

“Utilities can’t always tell which loads are real, and that’s creating friction in the queue. The projects that win will be the ones with discipline, grid literacy, and strong relationships.”

— James McWalter, CEO

These changes make power access less predictable and more competitive, forcing developers to adapt quickly to stay in line for energization.

 Takeaway: Large-load demand is rewriting the rules, and only disciplined, well-prepared projects will secure power on time.

5. Emerging Themes & Buzz

While policy and capital dominated, other themes surfaced in conversations across the expo floor:

• Batteries everywhere: from standalone projects to solar-plus-storage, energy storage was the hottest topic by far.
  
  
• M&A and capital recycling: developers are optimizing portfolios and redeploying capital into the most promising assets.
  
  
• Agrivoltaics: innovative land-use models,  including grazing sheep in solar fields,  are gaining real momentum as a way to unlock new acreage and create community value.
  
  

Takeaway: Innovation and diversification are driving new models, signaling an industry experimenting to accelerate growth.

Looking Ahead

RE+ 2025 showcased a clean energy sector that is evolving quickly — from storage growth and policy complexity to real estate diligence and capital recycling. These conversations reinforced the need for better tools to streamline siting, permitting, and risk assessment so projects can move faster.

At Paces, we’re focused on helping developers adapt with confidence. Partnerships, smarter technology, and more efficient development practices will be essential to meeting the rising demand curve for renewables and data centers.

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