Opaque, multi-step utility interconnection and permitting processes—combined with unreliable capacity data and shifting assumptions—cause multi-month to multi-year delays for distributed energy, building electrification, and EV charging projects. Local governments and Tribes lack timely, accurate information on grid capacity and timelines, making it difficult to plan projects, set expectations, or meet incentive and funding deadlines.

• Illustrative examples: In Berkeley, EV charging plans collapsed after PG&E reversed prior capacity assumptions, forcing project redesigns and delays. In Altadena, churches attempting to install community solar faced major hurdles due to unclear permitting rules and inconsistent utility guidance, illustrating how data opacity and process uncertainty derail community-scale clean energy projects.