The Midwest is emerging as a proving ground for solar and battery storage deployment as AI-driven demand reshapes the grid.
Carrie Zalewski, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Government Affairs and Policy at Constellation, points to strong state policy leadership and regulators who are already backing storage-ready coalitions across the region. At the same time, she notes that regulatory structures haven’t caught up: slow interconnection timelines, as well as an inability to fully value the grid attributes that storage provides, remain real barriers to faster deployment.
Evelyn Carpenter, President and Chief Executive Officer of Invera Energy, addresses the rising misinformation surrounding data center development and why industry-wide collaboration is essential to counter it. Bringing developers, utilities, and policymakers together, she explains, helps the solar and storage industry share best practices, align on community messaging, and navigate strategy in a post-Investment Tax Credit landscape.
Despite these headwinds, both speakers agree the industry’s fundamentals remain strong: demand is high, economics are favorable, and the Midwest’s regulatory and market landscape is distinct from other regions, including the western United States and the New England Independent System Operator territory. Regional events like Intersolar & Energy Storage North America Midwest give solar and storage professionals a rare chance to dig into challenges and solutions specific to the region.
