IREC
Catelyn Sweeney, IREC Regulatory Policy Specialist, supports the Regulatory team’s efforts to streamline energization of distributed energy resources, particularly Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE) for large loads, focusing on medium- and heavy-duty EVs. Prior to joining the Regulatory team, Catelyn supported IREC’s Local Initiatives team as a Program Manager and supported the Charging Smart Program, which provides local governments nationwide with no-cost technical assistance to streamline EVSE permitting and zoning policies. Catelyn holds a Master’s in Urban Resilience and Sustainability from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Development from Appalachian State University.
The electric grid is in a new era of load growth and that brings with it a new set of challenges for connecting large load customers. ICF forecasts that U.S. electricity demand will increase by 39 percent by 2035 and peak demand will grow 25 percent by 2035.
The question is not just how much new load the grid can accommodate — it’s also how quickly it can be added. States and utilities are developing policies and processes to improve large load connections to the transmission and distribution systems.
Although the unprecedented demand from AI and data centers has been the primary catalyst for these efforts, the implications extend more broadly and are reshaping grid connections for another growing customer segment: medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle (MHDEV) fleets.
Fleet owners and operators are increasingly pursuing electrification in response to corporate and state electrification goals, as well as cost and operational benefits. The ability to meet these electrification goals is significantly impacted by access to grid capacity and the efficiency of the energization process.