With data center power demands projected to grow by 160% by 2030, the industrial market is entering a new era defined by electrification, AI-driven operations and data-intensive tenants.
Yet the underlying infrastructure required to power this growth is running into unprecedented strain.
In many high-growth regions, utility interconnection timelines for large industrial loads now range from 18 months to more than five years, fundamentally reshaping how developers, operators and tenants plan for occupancy.
To explore these dynamics, we spoke with Clark Wiedetz, vice president, energy solutions at STV, about the new energy realities facing industrial properties and the emerging strategies owners need to stay competitive.
1. Industrial owners across the country are reporting multi-year delays for power. What’s happening, and why is it so disruptive?
What we’re seeing is a convergence of pressures: accelerating demand, constrained regional grids and utilities navigating unprecedented electrification.
That’s why we emphasize flexible, economically grounded energy strategies that help owners make informed decisions rather than waiting for strained utility timelines to catch up. The solution isn’t always waiting for the grid: it’s looking at onsite and hybrid power solutions that provide near‑term capacity while positioning assets for longevity.
And because STV has deep, long-standing experience designing and delivering mission-critical power systems – including complex distribution, load-management and high-reliability electrical infrastructure – we’re able to help owners understand what’s feasible today and what resiliency will require tomorrow.
2. What does a flexible energy strategy actually look like for industrial properties?
If utility power is five years out, we build a strategy that bridges that gap, then adapts seamlessly as more permanent sources come online. Increasingly, owners want to understand: Will my onsite power be cheaper than the utility in five years? In some markets, that answer might be yes.
The point is optionality. Nothing today is one-size-fits-all: different markets, tenants and growth trajectories require different mixes. That’s why industrial owners benefit from a partner who can evaluate engineering realities and long-term economic performance side by side – helping them choose solutions that are both technically sound and financially resilient.
3. Why should owners loop in an energy advisor at the outset, rather than later in the process?
I’ve seen how often energy challenges start because we weren’t integrated early enough in the design phase. By the time an RFP is issued, the site is chosen and the building footprint is defined, major decisions are locked in. But energy shouldn’t be an afterthought – it should shape the earliest phases of planning.
When energy considerations are built in from day one, owners gain clarity around capacity constraints, cost scenarios and long-term operating implications. That gives them more control rather than needing to react to limitations later.
This early partnership aligns with how STV approaches all complex infrastructure challenges: by listening, collaborating and anticipating what’s ahead.
4. As power becomes a defining competitive factor, what will separate tomorrow’s most successful owners from others?
The owners who will succeed will be those who treat energy as a core part of their operating expenses in their business model: something that shapes site selection, asset value, tenant mix, technology choices and long-term operational economics.
That means having advisors to evaluate where power comes from today, and five, 10, even 20 years from now. It means understanding how emerging technologies, from hydrogen to advanced storage to modular generation, can expand optionality and protect assets from price and grid volatility.
There is real opportunity for owners who approach energy strategically – not as a constraint but as an advantage that can unlock market agility and long-term competitiveness.
Early advisory insights let us help clients anticipate what’s ahead, challenge default assumptions and build assets that stay competitive through market shifts. That forward-looking approach reflects STV’s commitment to helping clients make confident decisions in a rapidly changing energy landscape.
