Hyperscalers often lack the “aptitude” on power as the political push picks up to expedite grid connections and pipelines

Laura Swett, chairwoman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston, Texas, US, on Thursday, March 26, 2026. The event convenes more than 10,000 participants from over 2,350 companies across 89 countries for dialogue on the agenda ahead as the world enters a new era of energy transition. Photographer: Aaron M. Sprecher/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Credit: Aaron M. Sprecher—Bloomberg/Getty Images)

The federal, bureaucratic push to expedite power grid interconnections is picking up steam, but a key headwind is the lack of “aptitude” and communication from hyperscalers as they rush to electrify their AI data center hubs, said Laura Swett, chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which oversees grid connections and pipeline approvals.

A combination of Supreme Court rulings, federal rulemaking, and a renewed congressional push for infrastructure permitting reform are all helping speed up approval and construction timelines—while reducing environmental reviews. But a big roadblock is the “tension” between Big Tech hyperscalers wanting to move faster and the “lack of understanding” of the processes, Swett said at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference last week.