E3, a Willdan Company, Publishes Study on Grid Strain and Customer Impacts from Virginia Data Center Growth

By: Willdan Group, Inc. via Business Wire

December 19, 2024 at 18:30 PM EST

Willdan Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WLDN) announced today that it has published a study on the grid and customer impacts from data center growth in Virginia. Commissioned by the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), this work included multiple load growth scenario models and a cost-of-service analysis to evaluate the impact of data center expansion and load growth on both the electric grid and ratepayers.

Energy + Environmental Economics (E3), Willdan’s wholly owned subsidiary, conducted this study and found that:

The scale and pace of data center growth will likely be constrained by the timing of new energy infrastructure development.
To achieve clean energy goals, the state will need unprecedented investments in a diverse mix of generation resources, including both existing and emerging technologies.
This level of growth will require innovative ways to allocate and recover new infrastructure costs and mitigate impacts to existing ratepayers.

“This analysis will inform Virginia’s approach to grid investments so they can maintain grid reliability, value to ratepayers, and progress toward ambitious clean energy goals,” said Mike Bieber, Willdan’s CEO. “Nationally, other states can look to Virginia and this study as they begin to experience data center growth.”

The full study, including E3’s findings and recommendations, can be found here.

About JLARC

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) conducts program evaluation, policy analysis, and oversight of state agencies on behalf of the Virginia General Assembly. The duties of the Commission are authorized by the Code of Virginia.

About Willdan

Willdan is a nationwide provider of professional, technical, and consulting services to utilities, government agencies, and private industry. Willdan’s service offerings span a broad set of complementary disciplines that include electric grid solutions, energy efficiency and sustainability, energy policy planning and advisory, engineering and planning, and municipal financial consulting. For additional information, visit Willdan's website at www.willdan.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. It is important to note that Willdan’s actual results could differ materially from those in any such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the risk factors listed from time to time in Willdan’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 29, 2023. Willdan cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Willdan disclaims any obligation to, and does not undertake to, update or revise any forward-looking statements in this press release.