In an era marked by escalating energy demands, rising costs, and mounting grid constraints, the imperative for states to take a proactive role in shaping the future of energy has never been more pressing.  

Yet in many cases, important decisions impacting energy costs and reliability are made not at the state level but at the regional level, by Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and Independent System Operators (ISOs) overseen by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). These regional entities bring many benefits—such as increased efficiency, lower costs, and more robust competition—but they also involve a fractured landscape of decision-making and accountability. To support states as they navigate complex regional dynamics, Advanced Energy United launched the “Gridlock to Growth” initiative to empower state leaders, policymakers, and advocates to drive forward better regional energy outcomes. 

To kick off this initiative, we held a Gridlock to Growth workshop to help state lawmakers better understand the complexities of the regional transmission system and provide concrete solutions to meeting rising electricity demand. Legislators, policymakers, and industry leaders gathered to tackle one of the most critical issues facing our energy future: how to overcome market barriers and transmission constraints by engaging proactively with RTOs and ISOs. The conversation covered the roles and responsibilities of RTOs/ISOs, the complexities of regional transmission planning, the difference between what is in FERC’s jurisdiction versus the states’ jurisdiction, opportunities for states to lead and engage on regional issues, and the hot button issues we see popping up across the country, such as load growth, artificial intelligence (AI), and RTO governance.  

The diversity of attendees from both a regional and partisan perspective made clear that these are issues all lawmakers are concerned about—and hearing about from their constituents. Attendees asked questions about how retirement decisions get made, how decisions about who pays for infrastructure get made, and how they can have confidence that their neighbors will remain committed to solving problems regionally. One Republican legislator shared a commitment to educating colleagues about the economic benefits of renewables, saying, “I’m trying to get my colleagues to understand that renewables are the cheaper option—it makes the most economic sense.” This kind of cross-party momentum is exactly what we need to drive meaningful change. Attendees left energized with a clearer understanding of how states can engage with regional planners to ensure there are positive outcomes for their constituents.  

Image: United policy staff and state lawmakers at United's Gridlock to Growth workshop in Boston, MA.

As part of our commitment to ongoing dialogue and action, Advanced Energy United has also launched gridlocktogrowth.org, which will serve as a central hub for state leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders to access tools, insights, and updates on regional energy challenges and solutions. The initiative offers resources to demystify RTOs/ISOs and FERC, explain what they do and how decisions get made, and empower stakeholders to navigate and influence the regional energy landscape effectively. 

Recognizing the unique challenges each state faces, the initiative provides tailored tools to facilitate informed decision-making, including: 

• Understanding the System 101: An introductory guide that elucidates the fundamentals of transmission systems and how regional planning occurs through RTOs and FERC, laying the groundwork for deeper engagement. 

• State Leadership and Engagement on Regional Energy Challenges: Strategies and best practices for states to actively participate in regional energy discussions and decisions. 

• State Policies to Improve Transmission Outcomes: Policy models and example legislation that states can adapt or adopt to enhance transmission infrastructure outcomes. 

The website offers different pathways for decisionmakers with different objectives and varying familiarity with RTO/ISO processes, and provides fact sheets, videos, and other resources for them and their staff to understand and stay on top of these issues at both a federal and regional level.  

Image: Homepage of United's gridlocktogrowth.org website.

We invite readers to explore the website and encourage state leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to use the resources—and to provide feedback on what they want to see more of. We also encourage you to revisit the website periodically, as this will be a resource we continue to build and share.  

States are the drivers of change, and the leadership of state lawmakers is more essential now than ever before. We hope that Gridlock to Growth will help states navigate the complexities of the regional grid system, engage meaningfully in decision-making processes, and implement policies that ensure reliable, affordable, and equitable energy access for all constituents.