RTO Insider discusses United’s new report, which shows that fixing interconnection processes could result in over $100 billion in economic benefits, and over one million years' worth of work for Americans. United’s President and CEO Heather O’Neill emphasized the important role states play in expediting interconnection reforms nationwide.
Topics: State Policy, United In The News, FERC, Heather O'Neill, Transmission, Federal
BOSTON, MA – Today, the Massachusetts state legislature set a model for the nation by passing comprehensive permitting and siting reforms for clean energy infrastructure, along with key advancements on grid-enhancing technologies and energy storage.National business association Advanced Energy United supported the bill throughout the legislative process.
Topics: Press Releases, Transmission, Massachusetts, Permitting and Siting, Battery Storage
Texas news station KBTX News 3 reports that the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $360 million in funding for United member company Pattern Energy's Southern Spirit transmission project, which aims to connect the ERCOT grid to other U.S. power grids. The station interviewed Matthew Boms of the Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance, who highlighted the project's potential to lower consumer energy prices and improve overall reliability and efficiency for the Texas energy market.
Topics: United In The News, Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance, Texas, Transmission, Matthew Boms
Electricity capacity prices skyrocketed 900% in latest auction
TRENTON, NJ –Today, New Jersey Assembly Members James Kennedy, Andrea Katz, Robert Karabinchak, and David Bailey released a joint statement on the 900% price increase announced last month by New Jersey’s electric grid operator, PJM. Prices in their annual capacity auction rose over 900 percent from $28.92 per megawatt-day to $269.92. By the end of 2025, New Jersey ratepayers will likely see electricity bill increases of as much as 29 percent.
Topics: Press Releases, Transmission, New Jersey
Electricity capacity prices skyrocketed 900% in latest auction
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Today, Maryland State Senator Ron Watson and Maryland Delegates Adrian Boafo, Lorig Charkoudian, David Fraser-Hidalgo, and Natalie Ziegler released a joint statement on the skyrocketing electricity prices announced last week byMaryland’s electric grid operator, PJM. Prices in its annual capacity auction rose over 900 percent, from $28.92 per megawatt-day to $269.92. The price increase was most significant in Maryland, rising to $466.35. Next June, most Maryland ratepayers will likely see electricity bill increases well over 30 percent.
These prices are driven in large part by the grid operator’s years-long issues in getting more generating resources connected to the grid. At the end of 2023, PJM had 3,309 projects – mostly solar and battery storage – waiting to connect to the grid and provide cheaper power to the region. PJM earned a national-worst “D-” in a recent scorecard from Advanced Energy United of all grid operator interconnection processes earlier this year, with developers forced to wait longer in PJM than any other region in the country. These clean energy projects together have enough capacity to replace all the generation currently operating in the PJM system, even after planned fossil fuel plant retirements. Because of this backlog, new renewable projects cannot even apply to bring power to Maryland consumers until 2026.
Topics: Advanced Transportation, Press Releases, Transmission, Maryland
Canary Media covers the recent U.S. Department of Energy funding allocated from Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program to New England states, which will revolutionize offshore wind development. The article quotes United's Jeremy McDiarmid, who emphasizes the importance of improving the power grid to meet the increasing load growth demands.
Topics: United In The News, Offshore Wind, Transmission, Jeremy McDiarmid, New England
White House and DOE announcement will help support deployment of GETs
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the White House and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a new Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative aimed at bolstering America’s power grid by using tools like grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) and doing advanced reconductoring. Joining the Initiative are 21 inaugural states that have agreed to partner with the federal government to speed improvements to the power system.
“At a moment when our electric grid has been neglected, and the demand for energy is on the rise, we must make immediate grid upgrades while we also plan for more long-range transmission lines,” said Verna Mandez, Director of Transmission at Advanced Energy United. “There’s a whole suite of proven, reliable, and cost-effective technological innovations able to make our electric grids do more with less. If we don’t use these proven technologies right away, consumers will be left paying more for a less reliable energy system.”
Topics: Federal Policy, Press Releases, Transmission, Verna Mandez
Associated Press reports on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)'s approval of rules aimed at improving long-term regional planning for high-voltage interstate electric transmission lines. The article quotes United President and CEO Heather O'Neill, who voiced support for the rulemaking and emphasized the need for the buildout of more multi-state transmission lines to keep up with our growing energy needs.
Topics: Wholesale Markets, United In The News, FERC, Heather O'Neill, Transmission
FERC Order No. 1920 will improve transmission planning and make it easier for states to improve their transmission grid
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) voted to approve new rules aimed at improving long-term regional planning for high-voltage interstate electric transmission lines.
“Families and businesses are paying the price for utilities’ and grid operators’ failure to address our critical electricity infrastructure needs,” said Heather O’Neill, President and CEO at national business association Advanced Energy United. "Building more multi-state transmission lines unclogs the traffic jams on America’s electricity superhighways and unlocks our ability to keep up with our growing energy needs. This FERC Order sends the message that transmission planning needs to change, and recognizes that states deserve a central role in ensuring a reliable electric grid built for the future.”
Topics: Wholesale Markets, Press Releases, Caitlin Marquis, FERC, Heather O'Neill, Transmission
A lack of electric transmission is harming or may soon harm households and businesses across the country
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a preliminary list of 10 potential National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETCs) to accelerate the development of transmission projects in areas that have an urgent need for expanded transmission. DOE is now seeking public input on the process.
“As America’s energy needs grow, the backbone of the energy system needs to grow with it,” said Verna Mandez, Director of Advanced Energy United’s transmission program. “Transmission is how we get affordable electricity from where it’s made to where it’s needed so we can keep the lights on and lower energy bills.”
Topics: Federal Policy, Press Releases, Transmission, Verna Mandez