FERC’s landmark transmission planning order – Order No. 1920 – will require changes to how America builds up its transmission system, the backbone of our electric grid. Fundamental to this new process will be a formalized role for states in deciding how transmission lines are planned and paid for. The ruling has the potential to transform our system by encouraging cooperation and prioritizing system reliability and affordability. Getting it right will require a new approach by many stakeholders, and will especially require robust state engagement.
Verna Mandez
Recent Posts
Navigating State Dynamics of FERC's Transmission Order
Topics: Wholesale Markets, Transmission
Introducing ‘Transmission Possible’: A New Campaign to Break the Gridlock and Advance New Transmission Policies
Our transmission grid is overdue for an upgrade. More than 70% of America’s transmission lines are nearing the end of their 50-80-year lifespan, and the older our antiquated grid gets, the more vulnerable it becomes to failure. According to a U.S. Government Accountability Office analysis, power outages have become longer and more frequent in recent years, affecting nearly three in four Americans and jeopardizing the health and safety of vulnerable people. America needs more transmission to keep up with its growing electricity needs.
Topics: Transmission
States Take the Baton in Race to Improve Electric Transmission
This past weekend, President Biden signed a bill to raise the national debt ceiling that also included modest improvements in the permitting process for building clean energy projects. As part of the negotiation process, Congressional leaders considered policy changes to speed up the buildout of large-scale electric grid transmission, such as expanding transmission capacity between regions. Ultimately, and unfortunately, those reforms were not included in the bill.
Topics: State Policy, Federal Policy, Arizona, Transmission, California, Maryland, Colorado
United Joins Member Companies in Calling on Congress to Include Critical Transmission Funding in FY 2024 Budget
Topics: Transmission, Verna Mandez