MISO Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) Feb 25, 2025 Meeting Summary
The MISO PAC meeting held on February 25, 2026, convened to review key planning initiatives and policy developments across the MISO region. The February session focused on planning initiatives related to growing demand, transmission expansion considerations, and stakeholder feedback on emerging planning issues.
The following overview highlights the major discussion themes and planning updates presented during the meeting.
Transmission Planning and System Expansion
A key focus of the February PAC meeting was ongoing work associated with MISO’s regional transmission planning processes, which evaluate long-term system needs and identify transmission upgrades necessary to maintain reliability and accommodate changing resource patterns.
MISO continues to evaluate system needs driven by several factors, including:
- Increasing electrification and load growth
- Generation retirements and renewable integration
- Regional reliability requirements
- Transmission congestion and system constraints
These planning efforts are coordinated through MISO’s Multi-Value Project (MVP) framework and the broader MISO Transmission Expansion Planning (MTEP) process, which assesses long-term transmission infrastructure requirements across the region.
Stakeholders discussed how these planning initiatives are evolving as the region experiences rapid shifts in generation resources and demand patterns.
Large Load Additions and Demand Growth
Another major topic discussed at the PAC meeting was the growing impact of large load additions on regional planning.
MISO has observed increasing interest from large electricity consumers, including data centers and industrial facilities, seeking service across the MISO footprint. These new loads introduce additional planning considerations, including:
- Transmission capacity availability
- Local reliability impacts
- Interconnection timelines and infrastructure requirements
- Coordination with resource adequacy and transmission planning processes
MISO staff noted that stakeholder feedback continues to be collected regarding potential planning approaches for accommodating large load additions and ensuring system reliability as demand patterns evolve.
Interconnection and Planning Coordination
The PAC meeting also highlighted ongoing coordination between generation interconnection processes and regional planning activities.
Stakeholders discussed how interconnection queue developments and new generation projects influence system planning studies and transmission upgrade needs. Aligning these processes is important to ensure that system planning reflects both future generation resources and emerging load growth trends.
MISO continues to work with stakeholders through working groups and committees to refine planning methodologies and ensure transparency in how interconnection and planning processes interact.
Stakeholder Engagement and Feedback
Key stakeholder considerations raised during the meeting included:
- Ensuring planning assumptions reflect evolving load forecasts
- Improving transparency around planning timelines and study results
- Aligning planning processes with rapidly changing generation and load trends
Next Steps
The issues discussed during the February PAC meeting will continue to move through MISO’s stakeholder process, including discussions at various subcommittees and working groups.
Future PAC meetings will provide additional updates on:
- Regional transmission planning initiatives
- Large load planning considerations
- Interconnection and system planning coordination
Navigating Large Load Interconnection in MISO
Understanding how regional transmission planning, interconnection processes, and load growth trends interact is critical for developers evaluating new projects within the MISO footprint.
For companies planning generation, storage, or large load facilities in the region, early insight into transmission constraints, upgrade risks, and planning timelines can significantly influence project viability.
If you are evaluating a project within the MISO region, contact us to assess grid feasibility and identify the most viable locations for development.
