Data center companies are increasingly looking toward on-site or adjacent power generation or storage to alleviate grid constraints or work around utility interconnection delays. In some cases, they’re choosing the microgrid route, where the site operates its generation to enable full or partial island operation in the absence of the larger grid. On-site generation could help solve data centers’ power problems, but it may not substantially reduce generation and transmission infrastructure investments on the utility side. This panel will explore the different on-site energy applications, and how utilities and data center customers can leverage these technologies to alleviate peak load periods while improving power quality. Panelists will also discuss potential long-term impacts on the traditional utility model, with considerations for infrastructure investment and cost-sharing.