Data centers and new power in Idaho

11.6 GW of new power is waiting to connect to the grid in Idaho — 65 requests across 27 counties. That is the 28th largest amount of any state. 218 projects are built, 558 withdrawn. Data as of 14 October 2026.

The power picture

What is happening with electricity in Idaho

Every new power plant, battery or big customer has to join a waiting list before it can plug into the grid. This is what that list looks like in Idaho right now.

11.6 GW
of new power is waiting to connect
65 projects asked. Not yet approved. Roughly what 9.3 million homes use.
4.2 GW
has actually been built
218 projects switched on so far.
558
projects gave up
Withdrawn before being built. Normal nationally.

Where every request ever filed here ended up

  • Built 25%
  • Still waiting 8%
  • Withdrawn 65%
  • Paused 2%

Most requests in the US are withdrawn — a developer tests a site and moves on. That is normal, not a warning sign for Idaho.

What kind of power is asking to connect

  • Solar 51%
  • Batteries 20%
  • Natural gas 16%
  • Wind 12%
  • Hydro 1%
  • Nuclear 0%

By capacity requested. Data as of 14 October 2026.

All the numbers

860 requests ever filed
Waiting to connect
65
of 860 ever filed
Capacity requested
11.6 GW
asked for, not approved
Already built
4.2 GW
218 switched on
Built vs decided
28.1%
558 withdrawn
Counties involved
27
with five or more requests
Big new power users
307 MW
24 requests

Source: the interconnection queues of every transmission provider operating in Idaho. Parsed and normalised by Watt Street. Data as of 14 October 2026. A queued project is a request, not a commitment.

Waiting to connect, by type of power

TypeProjectsCapacity requested
Solar295.9 GW
Batteries132.3 GW
Natural gas81.9 GW
Wind71.4 GW
Hydro793 MW
Nuclear145 MW

Who runs the waiting list in Idaho

Grid operator or utilityRequestsCapacity pending
IP6747.8 GW
PacifiCorp1263.1 GW
Avista24455 MW
BPA34293 MW
CAISO20 MW

Counties in Idaho

27 with power on the waiting list

Every county with at least five requests on file. Open one to check an address, or see the schools near any mapped data center.

CountyWaitingCapacity queuedAlready built
Elmore County102.5 GW1.1 GW
Ada County112.0 GW531 MW
Bingham County81.8 GW152 MW
Power County41.6 GW297 MW
Owyhee County5993 MW185 MW
Canyon County4594 MW89 MW
Jerome County2320 MW60 MW
Bannock County2301 MW4 MW
Kootenai County4255 MW0 MW
Bonneville County2211 MW309 MW
Blaine County2200 MW12 MW
Lincoln County1200 MW16 MW
Fremont County1195 MW9 MW
Minidoka County156 MW10 MW
Twin Falls County119 MW665 MW
Franklin County10 MW0 MW
Gem County10 MW0 MW
Butte County00 MW0 MW
Camas County00 MW0 MW
Caribou County00 MW0 MW
Cassia County00 MW72 MW
Clark County00 MW0 MW
Gooding County00 MW18 MW
Idaho County00 MW2 MW
Jefferson County00 MW2 MW

Key dates for projects here

1 dated · next closes 2026-10-15 (CAISO)
QueueWhat closesClosesStanding
CAISOCAISO Cluster 16 interconnection request window
Interconnection requests submitted through the GRIP portal.
2026-10-15confirmed source
FERCFERC large-load show cause — stakeholder comments on RTO responses
Comments on the six RTO/ISO responses to the FPA section 206 show-cause orders of 18 June 2026 (PJM EL26-67, SPP EL26-68, NYISO EL26-69, MISO EL26-70…
No date published yetunconfirmed source
FERCFERC RM26-4 — generic large-load rulemaking
Still at ANOPR stage.
No date published yetconfirmed source
FERCGeorgia PSC - Georgia Power must file large-load contracts 30 days before execution
A standing obligation rather than a dated one: large-load contracts must be filed with the commission at least 30 days before they are executed.
No date published yetconfirmed source

A date marked confirmed was checked by a person against the authority's own tariff, order or form page. Anything else is listed so you know it exists, with a link so you can check it yourself. Full calendar.

Big new power users asking to connect

24 requests · 307 MW

Requests to connect large new customers — data centers, factories, electrification — rather than power plants.

RequestCapacityCountyStatusQueue
Industrial Park120 MWKootenai CountywithdrawnBPA
Thompson Creek Mine Load28 MWCuster CountyenergizedBPA
Elmore County SFBRD27 MWElmore CountyenergizedBPA
Starrh Transformer Replacement21 MWCassia CountywithdrawnBPA
L0518 Pacific Substation Transformer21 MWCassia CountywithdrawnBPA
New Midway Substation14 MWTeton CountyactiveBPA
Bridge Substation10 MWCassia CountyactiveBPA
Liberty Gold10 MWCassia CountyactiveBPA
Sand Creek Substation9 MWBonner CountyactiveBPA
Drummond-Macks Inn 46 kV to 115 kV Conversion8 MWFremont CountyenergizedBPA
United Electric Line Tap8 MWCassia CountywithdrawnBPA
NLI New Naples Service7 MWBoundary CountyactiveBPA
Rural Substation7 MWMinidoka CountyactiveBPA
East Hills Substation7 MWCassia CountyactiveBPA
West Burley Loads5 MWCassia CountyenergizedBPA

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