Energy planning in Utah must navigate the tension between near-term needs and long-term objectives. On one hand, there is an urgent push to add capacity quickly to meet large loads. On the other, long-term investments in dispatchable and low-carbon resources such as geothermal, nuclear, and other emerging technologies are recognized as essential for the decades ahead.

For a power-intensive facility like a 500 MW data center, diesel backup might come with 48 hours of onsite fuel storage. And at first glance, that sounds like a reliable strategy for protecting against power outages. Two days of fuel leaves plenty of buffer, right? But when you consider how long the bigger storms and the grid’s recovery can last, 48 hours of fuel storage could be a gamble you don’t want to make.

In early June 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission hosted a technical conference to dive into the challenges of resource adequacy (RA) across regional markets. This timely discussion was undoubtedly prompted by the nation’s rising demand for reliable electricity, challenged further by the rapid growth of data centers at the forefront of the AI race.

The future of reliable energy: How IIoT is powering smarter microgrids

DOE’s Resource Adequacy Report warns that without rapid action, U.S. grid reliability will decline by 2030 due to retirements, rising demand, and weather challenges, emphasizing flexible solutions.

Demand for power-intensive infrastructure like data centers and advanced manufacturing is accelerating, challenging the status quo trajectory of the U.S. energy system. Long grid interconnection timelines, rising reliability risks, and macroeconomic uncertainty are making it harder to get power where it’s needed, when it’s needed. In this environment, a flexible, forward-looking approach is no longer optional; it’s essential.