Unison Energy, a leading Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) developer based in Connecticut, is tackling the power challenges that come with AI infrastructure development. Backed by Tiger Infrastructure Partners, Unison focuses on constructing, owning, and operating behind-the-meter generation systems, mainly utilizing natural gas-based combined heat and power (CHP) and microgrids for major energy consumers across North America.
In January 2026, Mariko McDonagh Meier stepped in as CEO, bringing almost 20 years of experience in utilities and distributed energy. Her leadership comes at a time when developers face significant interconnection delays and uncertainties regarding grid capacity availability.
Recent projects include the deployment of CHP systems for General Mills in Missouri, along with an expanding pipeline linked to large-scale data center projects. As grid timelines increase, Unison’s model of onsite, dispatchable power under long-term contracts becomes more appealing to customers needing expedited power solutions.
The current statistics show that U.S. data centers consumed around 176 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2023, which might escalate to between 325 TWh and 580 TWh by 2028, representing up to 12% of the U.S. power load. The growing demand has resulted in over 2 terawatts of generation capacity waiting approval in interconnection queues, highlighting a significant gap between supply and demand.
Instead of waiting for grid infrastructure upgrades, many developers are opting to pair their computational needs with onsite power generation, allowing them to lock in capacity early while still planning to integrate grid electricity later.
In an interview, Meier elaborated on the shift towards onsite energy solutions, addressing the crux of why developers are transitioning from reliance on grid power. Historically, power consumers worried about achieving connectivity and the costs involved, but now there is a growing recognition that grid power may not be a viable solution for the immediate future.
Data center operators prioritize speed above all else when hiring services from Unison. Fast access to reliable power is critical, as without it, data centers couldn’t initiate operations. Moreover, there’s a perception aspect; claiming to self-generate electricity alters public discourse around opposition to new facilities.
Meier emphasized that all of Unison’s data center projects stem from customers unable to secure timely grid interconnections. The common challenges include lengthy wait times, project denials, and uncertainties on costs and timelines. Data center projects require synchronized coordination across various aspects, making them vulnerable to risks—especially related to energy supply.
In the event of utilities resolving interconnection problems swiftly, Unison’s pipeline would not see a significant reduction, as the strengthening of interconnection issues has been a continuing trend over the years. The industry’s focus has largely been on renewable energy integration rather than addressing the needs of data center operations directly.
When discussing the specifics of microgrid deployments for data centers, Meier noted that natural gas is primarily utilized for onsite power due to its dispatchable nature. Efforts are made to ensure these systems can potentially adopt biogas in the future, highlighting the importance of a diverse energy mix to meet demand.
As data centers increasingly view onsite generation as a primary power source instead of a backup option, they are scaling projects upwards of hundreds of megawatts to gigawatts through phased agreements. Meier revealed that their average performance in terms of uptime is remarkably high, though ensuring reliability remains crucial as projects scale.
The geographic location of services significantly impacts the economics of power generation, with onsite options often being more cost-effective in certain states compared to traditional grid electricity. The conversation inevitably turns to negotiations with creditworthy tenants, as securing agreements that can withstand long terms is essential to Unison’s business model.
In conclusion, as the demand for power continues to surge, Meier predicts that large data centers will increasingly incorporate onsite power solutions as a standard element of their infrastructure strategies, rather than relying solely on grid supplies. This mixed approach will become essential in meeting the growing energy demands of the data center sector.
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