The Transmission Possible Newsletter |
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New Resource: Gridlock to Growth
We have covered extensively the urgent need for transmission development, and the actions states are taking to ensure they are building a reliable and affordable grid. But many transmission issues happen at the regional level, with regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and independent system operators (ISOs) coordinating the development of transmission infrastructure.
Advanced Energy United has launched a new resource called GridlocktoGrowth.org, which aims to educate state lawmakers about ways they can engage with their RTOs and ISOs. It includes downloadable fact sheets about each transmission planning region, an overview of FERC and its importance, and policy recommendations for state leaders who wish to address transmission issues.
In their recent blog, United’s Verna Mandez and Caitlin Marquis reflect on outcomes from the recent Gridlock to Growth workshop earlier this month, which aimed to help state lawmakers better understand the complexities of the regional transmission system and provide concrete solutions to meet rising electricity demand nationwide.
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Federal Transmission Happenings |
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David Rosner Named Chairman of FERC
President Trump has appointed David Rosner as Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Rosner, who joined the Commission in 2024, has nearly two decades of experience spanning transmission planning, fuel security, energy storage integration, and gas–electric coordination. His career includes senior roles at DOE and the Bipartisan Policy Center.
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FERC Chair Mark Christie Departs After Final Dissent
On August 8, FERC Chair Mark Christie officially stepped down, leaving the Commission with a three-member quorum until the Senate returns from recess to consider two pending nominees from President Trump. Christie’s final act was a dissent in a PJM interconnection case, opposing the majority’s decision to grant Savion an 18-month suspension on a 66-MW solar project co-located with an existing facility in Kentucky. Christie argued the transmission infrastructure was already complete and that granting suspension risked “hoarding” interconnection capacity, delaying new generation, and harming competition. The majority found some interconnection work remained and sided with Savion.
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FERC Orders PJM to Update Interconnection Rules
On July 26, FERC directed PJM to revise its interconnection procedures to explicitly incorporate battery storage and Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs) into its planning process. The order is aimed at improving queue efficiency, accelerating clean energy integration, and ensuring that PJM evaluates non-wires and storage solutions alongside traditional transmission upgrades. Stakeholders see this as a key step toward unlocking cost-effective grid capacity and modernizing regional planning approaches.
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MISO’s $22B Transmission Plan Faces Legal and Oversight Challenges at FERC
Two major developments are putting MISO’s Long-Range Transmission Plan (LRTP) “Tranche 2.1” under intense scrutiny: -
FERC Rejects Market Monitor Limitations – On July 18, FERC denied MISO’s request to limit its independent market monitor’s authority over transmission planning, affirming that planning directly affects market outcomes and belongs within the monitor’s oversight.
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States File Complaint – On July 30, commissions from ND, MT, AR, MS, and LA challenged MISO’s classification of Tranche 2.1 as Multi-Value Projects (MVPs), citing inflated benefit calculations and flawed modeling. They are seeking to remove the MVP designation, require future MVP business cases to be filed with FERC, and pause construction until disputes are resolved. Ameren separately petitioned FERC to secure rights to build two Illinois projects without competitive solicitation.
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NERC Flags Data Center Growth as Top Near-term Reliability Risk
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) 2025 State of Reliability report warns that AI, cryptocurrency mining, and economy-wide electrification are driving unprecedented load growth, with data centers creating “one of the greatest near-term reliability challenges.” Hyperscale buildouts are outpacing the ability to expand supply and transmission. This underscores the urgent need for more transmission infrastructure to meet demand.
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Regional Transmission Updates |
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Colorado – CETA Prioritizes Six Transmission Projects
On July 10, the Colorado Electric Transmission Authority (CETA) Board approved a shortlist six transmission projects identified in its 2024 statewide transmission study, targeting $4.5 billion in needed grid upgrades. Priorities include improving West–East power flows, boosting interstate access, and enhancing reliability for rural communities. Next steps include notification and financing policies, plus early environmental engagement. See CETA June 2025 Study Session for project details and more maps.
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BPA Faces Questions Over Transmission Access Changes
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) released a proposal to update its transmission access framework, prompting questions from stakeholders about industry readiness and potential market impacts. The proposed changes could affect how utilities, generators, and other customers secure and use BPA transmission rights — with implications for interconnection timelines, system planning, and coordination across the Western Interconnection. Stakeholders are weighing potential operational and market impacts, especially for resource integration and reliability. Read more.
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CREPC Transmission Collaborative Issues First Cost Allocation Study
On August 7, the Committee on Regional Electric Power Cooperation’s Transmission Collaborative (CREPC TC), working with Energy Strategies, released its first study, State Exploration of Western Transmission Cost Allocation Frameworks. The report outlines voluntary, flexible approaches to align transmission costs with assigned capacity, supported by clear thresholds, standards, and independent review. Key recommendations include enabling voluntary subscription to project capacity, ensuring transparent benefit quantification, and using flexible processes to prevent overburdening individual utilities while supporting fairness. Three frameworks were tested under hypothetical interstate projects, with stakeholders favoring nonbinding approaches that offer proportionality and optionality. The report emphasizes that voluntary participation—converted into contractual or cost-share commitments as projects advance—will be critical to unlocking significant regional buildout.
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MISO & SPP – Search for Joint Transmission Projects Continues
MISO and SPP are still evaluating potential joint transmission projects under the Coordinated System Plan (CSP) process, despite earlier expectations that the 2025 cycle might yield at least one shared build. Officials cite modeling complexities, evolving state policy inputs, and cost allocation challenges as reasons for the delay. Both RTOs maintain that interregional projects remain a priority for improving reliability and market efficiency, and they plan to continue coordination into the next planning cycle.
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SPP Launches Consolidated Planning Process
SPP has rolled out its Consolidated Planning Process, combining economic, reliability, and public policy drivers into a single transmission planning framework. The new approach is designed to streamline decision-making, reduce duplication across separate planning studies, and better capture the multi-value benefits of large-scale transmission projects. SPP leaders say the process will help align regional priorities with state policy objectives while creating a clearer path for stakeholder engagement.
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PJM Capacity Auction Sees Record Price Spikes
For the second consecutive year, PJM’s capacity auction results cleared at historically high prices, raising concerns among consumer advocates and clean energy groups. Critics say that PJM’s current market design over-procures fossil generation and drives up costs for ratepayers, while supporters argue the results reflect the growing challenges of meeting reliability needs during peak demand. The auction outcome is expected to fuel ongoing debates over capacity market reform. Read more.
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Senator Blumenthal Wants Increased Oversight of Local Projects
In an August 8th letter to FERC, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D. CT) urged the Commission to provide better oversight over local transmission projects in support of a petition by the Industrial Consumers of America. He notes that spending on such projects has increased by more than 20 times over the past 10 years. This is another example of increased scrutiny for local and asset condition projects.
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State Transmission Updates |
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California SB 500 – Electrical Corporations: Performance Metrics and Incentives
Status: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
Requires the California Energy Commission (CEC) to track and report on the status of transmission upgrades, grid infrastructure capacity (including substations), expanded use of existing corridors, CPUC permitting timelines, ISO queue data by region and resource type, and expected completion or retirement dates for system and local resources. SB 330 – Transmission Pilot Project Authority Status: Passed One Chamber
Authorizes the Governor to establish pilot projects for the development, financing, and operation of electrical transmission infrastructure to support the state’s clean energy goals. The Governor would be responsible for designating state agencies, local public agencies, tribal organizations, or joint powers authorities to implement and oversee these projects, with transmission infrastructure controlled by a California balancing authority. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee must review and approve any pilot projects before they proceed.
AB 825 – Public Transmission Financing Program
Status: In Senate, Referred to Committee on Appropriations
Establishes a Public Transmission Financing Program through California’s Infrastructure Bank to support publicly sponsored transmission projects. The bill enables direct funding, revenue bonds, and debt financing—paired with labor standards like prevailing wages and apprenticeship requirements. The fund would prioritize public-interest projects, with up to $325 million proposed from state resilience funds. Additional safeguards require transparency on customer bill credits and restrict cost recovery through FERC unless strict cost-based criteria are met.
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Delaware
SB 61 – PJM Voting Transparency Status: Signed by Governor
This bill would require annual reporting by utilities and public advocates detailing all recorded PJM stakeholder votes—and how those votes served the public interest. It aims to improve transparency as PJM navigates major transmission and market decisions. HJR 3 – Grid-Enhancing Technologies Study
Status: Signed by Governor
Directs the Delaware State Energy Office and Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility to evaluate the potential adoption of grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) across all state utilities. The study must assess costs, benefits, technical feasibility, barriers to adoption, and implementation pathways for solutions such as dynamic line ratings, power flow controls, topology optimization, advanced conductors, energy storage, and demand response. |
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Maine
LD 810 – Approval of Transmission Lines
Status: Signed by Governor
Streamlines permitting by deeming legislatively authorized agency proposals for high-impact transmission lines as already having legislative approval, removing the need for a separate roll-call vote. |
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New York
A08934 – Advancing Grid Enhancement Technologies
Status: In Assembly, Referred to Energy Committee
The bill aims to expand deployment of technologies such as dynamic line ratings, advanced conductors, and power flow controls to improve reliability, optimize existing infrastructure, and support clean energy integration. Authorizes the Department of Public Service to approve requests from distribution companies to develop grid enhancement technologies (GETs). Requires distribution companies to submit a compliance filing report every five years outlining implementation progress. |
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Oregon
HB 3336 – Electric Transmission Systems
Status: Signed by Governor
Requires electric companies to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and deployment timeline of multiple strategies — including grid-enhancing technologies — in any transmission system plan filed with the Public Utility Commission (PUC). A strategic plan for using grid-enhancing technologies must be included in the clean energy plan and updated every two years, with timelines and progress reporting. Local governments may approve certain upgrades within existing ROWs without state siting review.
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Texas
SB 1789 – Electric Service Reliability and Infrastructure Standards
Status: Signed by Governor
Requires the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to establish structural integrity standards for transmission and distribution poles, accounting for geography, weather risks, and national safety codes. Utilities must conduct inspections, perform maintenance, and submit annual compliance reports. | |
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Updates From Our Coalition Partners |
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Report: Advanced Transmission Technologies Planning Guide
Quanta & RMI | 2025
A new report by Quanta, prepared for RMI, Advanced Transmission Technologies Planning Guide, provides best practices for incorporating Advanced Transmission Technologies (ATTs) in all three major planning paradigms in the United States: transmission planning, interconnection planning, and integrated resource planning. The report demonstrates how ATTs, which include dynamic line ratings, advanced power flow controls, topology optimization, and high-performance conductors, can be leveraged to address rapidly growing electricity demand and slowing new generator interconnection.
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Report: The State Regulator’s Role in Transmission RMI | 2025
A new report from RMI,The State Regulator’s Role in Transmission: A Handbook, provides recommendations for regulators looking to take action to promote optimal, cost-effective transmission buildout. Transmission is an essential component of a least-cost energy mix, and state regulators at public utility commissions (PUCs) in the United States have a critical role to play in optimizing transmission buildout to lower costs for ratepayers. The report provides state regulators with the information they need to navigate the complicated transmission landscape and take concrete action at multiple stages of a transmission project's life cycle. Accompanying this handbook, RMI is also offering regulators (commissioners or staff) research, analytical, and advisory support around transmission. Please use the form on this webpage to indicate further interest.
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Report: Utility Perspectives on Making Grid-Enhancing Technologies Work
Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG) | August 2025
A new report from the Energy Systems Integration Group, Utility Perspectives on Making Grid-Enhancing Technologies Work, examines how utilities are deploying solutions like dynamic line ratings, advanced conductors, power flow controls, and topology optimization to unlock existing grid capacity and improve efficiency—often without the need for new rights-of-way. Drawing on real-world utility experiences and regulatory examples, the report outlines how these technologies can be moved from pilot projects to standard practice through clearer modeling, aligned incentives, and integration into planning and market processes. The findings highlight that GETs can deliver near-term congestion relief, boost reliability, and accelerate clean energy integration while longer-term transmission buildouts proceed.
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Report: Large-scale Transmission Deployment Saves Consumers Money
ACEG & Grid Strategies | June 2025
A new report, Large-scale Transmission Deployment Saves Consumers Money, from ACEG and Grid Strategies, provides analysis showing that well-planned, high-capacity transmission lines don’t just support the clean energy transition—they deliver serious savings for ratepayers. According to the report, thoughtful transmission investment could generate up to $14.4 billion in annual electricity cost savings for U.S. households. That is a return of up to $4.70 for every $1 invested—not including added benefits like job creation and regional economic development. The findings reinforce a growing consensus: building out the grid with intention and scale is a win for reliability, affordability, and everyday consumers.
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Report: Resource Adequacy Value on Interregional Transmission
ACEG, Grid Strategies & Grid United | 2025
A new report, Resource Adequacy Value on Interregional Transmission, from ACEG, Grid Strategies, and Grid United, reinforces what many grid advocates have long understood: interregional transmission is not just about long-term planning—it’s a near-term tool for reliability and resource adequacy. With regions facing different peak demands and extreme weather events becoming more common, the ability to shift power across RTO and state lines is critical. Yet, most planning structures still fail to account for that value. The report calls on FERC, RTOs, and state regulators to adopt consistent methods for assessing and crediting the capacity value of interregional lines—especially when they deliver cross-boundary resilience.
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Transmission News Roundup |
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