Customer-load connection times vary by serving utility, location, requested load, study stage, and necessary upgrades. National generation queue figures measure proposed supply resources, not commercial and industrial customers seeking service.
Updated October 27, 2026. Berkeley Lab's 2026 edition reports over 2,060 GW of proposed generation and storage active in transmission-interconnection queues at end-2025: 1,312 GW generation and about 749 GW storage. Of capacity in interconnection requests submitted during 2000–2020, 13% had reached commercial operation by end-2025, 75% had withdrawn and 10% remained active. This is a historical capacity outcome, not a project success rate or a forecast. Equipment delivery dates must be verified for the particular supplier and order.
The High Cost Of The Queue
Delay exposure depends on a facility's contracts, utilization, costs, financing, and schedule. Project teams should quantify it using their approved financial model and dated supplier and contractor quotes.
Generation scale should match the load profile, the project's growth plan, and the cost of each supply option.
That mismatch between power availability and actual utilization is the stranded-capacity trap, and it drains capital that could be deployed elsewhere.
The Mechanics Of Bridge Power
Bridge power is temporary or semi-permanent on-site generation that carries an industrial load until a permanent utility connection is energized. Behind-the-meter generation lets a facility reach go-live status independently of the utility's schedule.
Bridge-to-BTM may be considered when selected permanent assets and the load schedule no longer align. Procurement slips are specific to equipment, supplier, and order; temporary generation may carry a site while utility work continues, but does not guarantee earlier revenue or preserve every project decision.
Fuel and engine choices for continuous operation depend on the equipment rating, intended duty, site conditions, emissions limits, and applicable permits. Project teams should verify the requirements and documented emissions performance for the specific equipment and jurisdiction before selecting a configuration.
Choosing A Bridge Configuration
Bridge generation is a site-specific engineering and procurement decision. Evaluate fuel availability, emissions permits, thermal and altitude derating, operating duty, redundancy, commissioning, and delivery schedules against the actual load profile. Modular capacity can support phased deployment, but availability and performance must be confirmed for the equipment and site in question.
From Schedule Risk To Operating Facility
On-site generation may provide an interim source while utility or permanent equipment work proceeds. Its schedule depends on equipment availability, permitting, fuel logistics, installation, and testing; it should not be assumed to commission within a fixed period.
Capacity planning should account for site derating and the chosen redundancy standard. A project-specific engineering study is needed to determine unit count and usable output.
Sources reviewed October 27, 2026: Berkeley Lab, Queued Up 2026