UtilityDive analyzed AEE's Western RTO Economic Impact Study, quoting AEE's Amisha Rai on RTO conversations with policymakers. Read snippets below and the full article here.

The creation of a West-wide regional transmission organization could generate between 159,000 and 657,000 permanent jobs through 2030, as well as up to $79.2 billion in additional gross regional product per year across the 11 Western states, according to a new report.

The report, commissioned by Advanced Energy Economy, found that every individual Western state, as well as the region as a whole, would see economic benefits from forming an RTO.

Challenges like extreme weather, drought and rising energy costs in the West are pushing policy-makers to look at in-state and regional solutions, and “obviously the conversation around development of a Western RTO, a more integrated power system across the West, is something that continues to gain traction,” said Amisha Rai, managing director at AEE, at a media briefing Tuesday.

Read the full article here.