A federal grid planning authority could counter utility incentives to stall transmission
Utilities that own fossil generation can benefit from congested transmission that blocks renewables, an economics professor found. In related work, a law professor proposed a federal grid planning authority to cure transmission delays, as well as near-term measures in that direction.
Grid operator PJM to start talks on regional transmission
The nation’s largest grid operator told renewables trade groups that it will launch a transmission planning process ordered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Give distributed resources a greater role in grid reliability, say four law professors
Distributed solar and storage, along with demand response, “perform during extreme weather events” and deserve a greater role in reliability planning, the law professors say, while a new public office of grid reliability could guide transmission planning.
Clearway, Enel executives propose three ways to fix utility-scale interconnection
Systematic transmission planning within grid regions, a “connect and manage” approach to interconnection, and using automation in interconnection studies were key solutions that could make interconnection faster and lower-cost, two leaders of renewables development firms said on a webinar.
California evaluates impacts of an RTO and its effects on state energy goals
A report requested by California’s legislature discusses both expected cost savings from expanding the state’s grid operator into a regional transmission organization, and a potential loss of state policy control.
To address transmission issues, FERC and NARUC agree to tackle barriers through a new task force
A decade after FERC Order 1000 was issued, transmission buildout remains slow, threatening clean energy goals and expanded solar and wind energy deployment.
Renewable energy growth is being slowed by current transmission planning, ACORE study says
The report warns that because of long lead times, the window “may be closing” on transmission upgrades needed to support a range of renewable energy goals.
These 3 technologies could deliver more solar and wind to the grid
In a U.S. study of the added renewables capacity made possible by grid-enhancing technologies, Brattle Group found that both solar and wind power would benefit in Kansas and Oklahoma through 2025.
Clear clogged interconnection queues with transmission planning: report
Interconnection queues, in which solar, wind and storage make up 90% of the projects, are “excessively slow, creating a backlog of unbuilt projects.” The culprit is inadequate transmission planning, says a new report.
