SiteScore™ & PowerMap™
The proprietary intelligence framework behind every Meridian engagement — four core domains, 100-point composite scoring, PRIME through WATCH tier classification.

Proximity to existing high-voltage transmission lines (230kV, 345kV, 500kV), direct substation access, and documented interconnection pathway. Tier 1 (direct access, ≥500kV within 2 miles) scores maximum. Tier 3 (no direct access, new line required) scores 0–2.

Analysis of the site's position in the relevant RTO/ISO interconnection queue (PJM, MISO, SERC, WECC). Sites with existing queue positions, completed studies, or legacy interconnection rights score highest. New greenfield queue filings in congested markets score 0–2.

Whether the adjacent nuclear facility is operating (maximum score), in license extension review, in decommissioning transition (partial credit), or fully decommissioned (infrastructure value only). Operating plants provide ongoing power procurement and grid stability benefits that decommissioned plants cannot.

Rated capacity of nearest accessible substation and available headroom for AI-scale load additions (typically 200–600 MW). Sites adjacent to nuclear plant substations with documented excess capacity score maximum. Sites requiring new substation construction score 0.

Quality of the regional utility's relationship with AI infrastructure operators and history of PPA execution for large-load customers. Utilities with documented hyperscaler off-take agreements score maximum. Utilities with no history of AI infrastructure engagement score 0–1.

A top-tier Power Infrastructure site has direct substation access, a clear interconnection pathway, an operating adjacent nuclear facility, and a utility with documented AI off-take history. This profile represents fewer than 12% of evaluated sites.

Distance to the nearest existing hyperscaler or large-scale AI data center campus (Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta). Sites within 50 miles of an operating campus benefit from established fiber routes, operator familiarity with the market, and precedent off-take structures. Sites >200 miles from any operating campus score 0–3.

Availability and density of long-haul fiber routes within 10 miles. AI data centers require multi-100Gbps fiber connectivity for inference workloads and data replication. Sites on or adjacent to major fiber trunk routes (e.g., I-95, I-90, I-70 corridors) score highest. Sites requiring new fiber construction score 0–2.

Volume of publicly announced or credibly rumored hyperscaler expansion activity within a 100-mile radius. Active expansion markets with multiple announced projects score maximum. Markets with no announced activity and no precedent score 0–1.

Proximity to metro areas with established data center and electrical engineering labor pools. MSA population within 90-minute commute, presence of relevant technical programs (community colleges, universities), and existing data center employer density in the market. Rural isolation without workforce precedent scores 0–1.

Whether a large-scale (100 MW+) co-location or PPA agreement has been executed within the same nuclear plant cluster or corridor. Precedent transactions reduce counterparty risk perception and accelerate deal structuring timelines. This criterion does not add points but can elevate a borderline site from one tier to the next in the final ranking.

Annual available water volume for cooling purposes. AI liquid-cooled clusters require 50–120 million gallons/year per campus. Sites adjacent to nuclear plants on major rivers or reservoirs (with established water rights infrastructure nearby) score highest. Arid sites requiring municipal water expansion score 0–2. Water rights documentation and existing intake infrastructure are positive modifiers.

Current zoning classification and entitlement progress for industrial/utility-scale development. Sites with existing industrial or heavy commercial zoning score maximum. Sites in agricultural or residential zoning requiring full rezoning with environmental review score 0–2. Partial entitlements, conditional approvals, and industrial park adjacency score in the 3–5 range.

Assessment of wetlands, floodplain, endangered species habitat, NEPA review requirements, and proximity to protected areas. Clean sites with no identified constraints score maximum. Sites with identified wetland or NEPA exposure score 0–3 depending on severity and mitigability. This is a penalty criterion — identified constraints reduce scores.

Physical readiness: cleared and graded land, existing road access, preliminary utility stub-outs, and geotechnical studies. Sites with completed Phase I environmental assessments, existing road infrastructure, and cleared acreage score 3. Undeveloped woodland or uncleared agricultural land with no preliminary work scores 0–1.

Usable acreage for AI campus buildout. AI data center campuses targeting 500 MW+ draw typically require 500–2,000 acres including setbacks, cooling infrastructure, and expansion land. Parcels with ≥1,000 usable acres score maximum. Smaller parcels (<200 acres) score 0 unless adjacent acquisition is highly feasible.

In practice, water access is the single most differentiating Development Readiness criterion across the GridMind dataset. Sites without credible access to 50M+ gallons/year rarely score above 60 overall, regardless of their Power or Policy scores. Nuclear plant adjacency is the primary driver of water access eligibility.

Whether the state has enacted pro-nuclear legislation, established nuclear development incentive programs, or created regulatory fast-track pathways for nuclear-adjacent infrastructure. Illinois, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Georgia score highest. States with nuclear moratoria or hostile utility commissions score 0–2.

State public utility commission attitude toward AI infrastructure load growth, large-load co-location agreements, and nuclear power purchase arrangements. Commissions that have approved precedent hyperscaler PPAs or issued favorable large-load rulings score highest. Commissions with rate base protection conflicts score 0–3.

Eligibility for and probability of capturing federal incentives: DOE Title XVII Loan Guarantee Program, IRA Production Tax Credit for nuclear energy, EDA infrastructure grants, and CHIPS Act-adjacent data center provisions. Sites with documented application pathways or precedent awards score maximum.

The site's position relative to FERC transmission rules, particularly Order 1920 (December 2025) cost allocation and transmission planning requirements. Sites in regions where Order 1920 reduces interconnection cost exposure score highest. Sites in non-compliant or late-implementing regions score 0–2.

County and municipal authority posture on AI infrastructure development: active economic development recruitment programs, available tax abatement structures, and precedent industrial incentive agreements. Counties with active AI/data center recruitment programs score maximum. Jurisdictions with no industrial development history score 0.

GridMind's December 2025 dataset update incorporated the FERC Order 1920 compliance status of all sites. Parcels in PJM and MISO territories — which implemented Order 1920 earliest — received FERC compliance score upgrades that materially shifted corridor rankings. This was one of the largest single-cycle score updates in the dataset's history.