Interconnection

A new resource, developed by Advanced Energy United, draws on several recent studies focused on the PJM region that capture how advanced energy technologies enable near-term load growth. The report shows that these solutions have the potential to unlock gigawatts of capacity on the grid – as long as states and PJM take action to deploy these critical tools.

In May of 2024, FERC issued Order No. 1920, a landmark order requiring all transmission providers to engage in multi-value long-term regional transmission planning. The order grants states significant opportunities to engage in this process. United’s Caitlin Marquis outlines the key decisions and actions states can take to influence compliance and to engage in implementation once the planning process begins.

PJM Interconnection and Google announced a groundbreaking partnership to use artificial intelligence to streamline how new energy projects connect to the power grid.

Outdated interconnection processes, high infrastructure costs, and regulatory misalignment are delaying the deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs) and electrification technologies across the U.S. Through interviews conducted with industry stakeholder across the technology spectrum, this report identifies key barriers slowing DER adoption and outlines policy and market solutions. With nearly 400GW of new capacity expected by 2035, proactive reforms are essential to ensuring a reliable, resilient, and cost-effective energy future.

PJM’s inability to quickly connect new large-scale energy sources to the grid cost consumers $7 billion in latest capacity auction, found new Grid Strategies analysis

While PJM is in the midst of an interconnection reform process, the slow pace of change continues to limit the supply of new energy, putting consumers at risk of even higher prices in future auctions. This report, prepared for Advanced Energy United by Grid Strategies, examines how outdated interconnection policies are driving up costs and outlines solutions to create a faster, more efficient process that ensures a reliable and affordable energy future.

This online resource hub offers explainers, guidance, and a checklist tailored for state decision-makers on FERC’s groundbreaking transmission planning and cost allocation Order. The resources detail how the Order shapes states’ roles in the new processes that will be designed and implemented by transmission grid operators.

To address potential electricity shortages, PJM Interconnection has proposed measures to expedite the development of new power plants in order to enhance grid reliability. Canary Media spoke with clean energy advocates, including United’s Caitlin Marquis, who argued that reforming current interconnection processes and investing in grid expansion could facilitate the integration of advanced energy solutions to meet electricity demand while supporting decarbonization goals.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved PJM Interconnection’s proposal to expedite the development of new power plants. Erie New Now spoke with United’s Jon Gordon who explained that this new approach favors fossil fuels over clean energy solutions and does not address the root of the issue, which is a faulty interconnection process.

Inside Climate News reports that PJM Interconnection has reached a settlement with Pennsylvania to cap capacity auction prices, aiming to mitigate soaring electricity costs. United’s Jon Gordon emphasized the importance of PJM completing the auction quickly and efficiently to reduce market uncertainty.

As the “generator interconnection” process continues to lengthen electricity deployment timelines, regulators and energy developers are looking for efficiencies that can accelerate deployment of energy projects. A new report finds promising energy deployment gains that can be realized through interconnection process improvements alone, providing recommendations for how states can support the deployment of energy projects alongside advocating for interconnection reform.

United’s Caitlin Marquis and Doug Pietrucha outline a recent report produced for Advanced Energy Institute by Grid Strategies and the Brattle Group that measures each RTO/ISO generator interconnection process using both qualitative and quantitative data.