The interconnection process remains a critical, high-stakes phase of the project development and finance lifecycle. In the current market, this process carries significant risk, as escalating network upgrade costs and study delays can jeopardize project bankability or render projects entirely unworkable. This session explores the primary risk factors within the interconnection cycle, highlights the evolving strategies developers and financiers are using to mitigate these exposures, and provides a forward-looking briefing on interconnection reform and streamlining solutions across the U.S. grid.