• New process would review paired large loads and supporting generation in 120-day cycles with rolling applications
• Eligible projects would need contractual links between the load and generation
• Rapid data center and manufacturing growth is driving the proposal

MISO has filed a new tariff with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) seeking to establish a Large Load Addition Resource Study (LARS) process to enable load and generation to be studied together.

LARS would create yet another siloed interconnection process beyond the main DPP process that would study large load and supporting generation pairs in a parallel 120-day study process. Ultimately, the goal of the new tariff would be to facilitate the “timely and reliable interconnection of large loads and new generation,” according to MISO’s filing.

MISO would accept LARS applications on a rolling basis with applications queued by timestamps, based on the time of submission, with three LARS study periods each year with 10 applications studied per period. Queued projects would be capable of replacing withdrawn applications prior to study kick off each period, but not after the period has begun.

The proposal would apply a minimum eligibility threshold of 200 MW as MISO determined loads at and above this range were the most likely to result in “meaningful grid impacts.”

Proposed eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must include executed agreements between the interconnection customer and either a LARS associated transmission customer or an entity owning or controlling the LARS associated load.

This agreement must demonstrate the output of the generating facility that will serve the LARS load for a minimum of five years via PPA, BTA or similar offtake or ownership agreements.

However, the load and generation must ultimately be linked for at least 15 years via subsequent agreements.

Projects can be no more than 150% of the peak demand of the LARS associated load and applicants must demonstrate 100% site control for the point of interconnection.

The load and generation must also be located at the same local resource zone, and the application must identify a COD for the generating facility and at least a portion of the load no less than three years from the date the application is issued. Notably, LARS load may be served by multiple projects to meet capacity needs as long as all are included in the application and meet established parameters.

MISO notes it is experiencing significant growth in demand with load growth projections of 1 to 3% through 2044 driven by data centers and manufacturing expansion, necessitating this filing. It also says the plan would enable it to meet the goals of the DOE’s Speed to Power initiative for large-scale transmission and generation projects as well as FERC’s June 18 order ordering MISO to consider studying generation facilities alongside proximate large loads to account for combined transmission system impacts.

MISO has requested the tariff revisions be made effective December 2, 2026 with MISO to commence the first LARS study period in 1Q27 if approved.

The proposal is one of many rulemaking provisions MISO is seeking to implement for large loads. Several of its recent filings, including its Large Generator Interconnection Agreement (LGIA) and Interconnection Reliability Requirements (IRR) establish definitions, responsibilities and standards for large loads to ensure grid reliability. MISO also says it is working with stakeholders on additional initiatives for large loads with an associated filing to be presented to FERC by November 16, 2026.

Some stakeholders have pushed against MISO’s use of expedited interconnection processes like ERAS and now LARS, arguing the grid operator should focus on the projects that have been stuck in its main interconnection queue for, in some cases, upwards of five years.