Generator Interconnection Progress Report: An Interim Evaluation of the Outcomes and Processes of the Seven U.S. Regional Transmission System Operators

Generator interconnection – the grid-connection process for large-scale projects like solar, wind, and energy storage – continues to be one of the biggest barriers for project developers and is preventing energy supply from keeping up with skyrocketing energy demand.

While grid operators have made meaningful strides in reducing interconnection queue backlogs and improving planning processes, significant challenges remain. This new progress report from Grid Strategies and The Brattle Group, prepared on behalf of Advanced Energy United, titled, “Generator Interconnection Progress Report: An Interim Evaluation of the Outcomes and Processes of the Seven U.S. Regional Transmission System Operators,” evaluates how each grid operators is progressing since an initial 2024 assessment at fixing these bottlenecks, and outlines policy solutions to speed connection to the transmission grid.

Grid operators have, with varying levels of success, cleared the backlog of projects while also preparing and implementing process changes for future review cycles. However, in many places, reforms have been slow, delays have been common, project withdrawal rates remain high, post-interconnection delays are both persistent and opaque, and fast-track workarounds have primarily benefitted costly thermal-generation projects. Project developers (interconnection customers) still generally face uncertainty with respect to both the cost and time to connect to the grid.

Findings Overview:

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