Meeting electric transmission needs for the 21st century grid

Proactive engagement with host communities by utilities, project developers and policymakers becomes a pivotal factor in ensuring the success of transmission projects.

By Paul A. DeCotis • Oct. 9, 2023

PNNL projects up to $6B annual benefit from West Coast offshore wind transmission planning

A new study from DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory aims to guide state policy in Oregon and California and "stand as a rubric for future grid integration studies."

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 5, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

AI in the Power Sector

Artificial intelligence is uniquely positioned to impact the electricity industry from both ends: as the technology driving large load demand growth and as a tool with the potential to make the power system more efficient. 

By Utility Dive staff

Western Power Pool outlines concept for West-wide transmission planning group

Current transmission planning processes in the West have not identified new transmission solutions that lead to building out new projects, a paper released Monday said. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Oct. 5, 2023

FERC must review local transmission planned by AEP, Duke, other Ohio utilities: complaint

Ohio utilities have added nearly $6.5 billion in PJM-approved “supplemental projects” since 2017 without oversight of their need, prudence and cost-effectiveness, the Ohio ratepayer advocate said Thursday.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Sept. 29, 2023

Con Edison: NYC is warming faster than expected and grid investment must follow

“Climate change will affect the lives of New Yorkers sooner and more severely than [we] had previously thought,” said Tim Cawley, the chairman and CEO of Consolidated Edison.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 27, 2023

Sen. Hickenlooper touts interregional transmission as new report tackles US grid risks

The U.S. electrical grid faces significant risk, but an expansion of interregional transfer capacity could improve reliability, according to a new report from SAFE, a nonpartisan policy organization focused on energy issues.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 27, 2023

Xcel Colorado proposes $15B plan to double renewables, add gas and energy storage capacity

The plan includes about 5,400 MW of solar and wind resources, more than 1,000 MW of energy storage and almost 630 MW of new gas-fired capacity.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 26, 2023

US won’t reach net zero emissions without transmission buildout: DNV

A cumulative $12 trillion will be spent on clean energy in North America by 2050, but neither the U.S. or Canada are on track to hit net zero by then, says consulting firm DNV.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 25, 2023

Record 13% of Eastern Interconnect capacity failed in Winter Storm Elliott: FERC, NERC

FERC commissioners called on Congress Thursday to name an agency for gas reliability oversight as commission and NERC staff issued cold-weather recommendations.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 22, 2023

NERC wants smaller renewables, batteries to register as bulk-power assets over reliability concerns

About 14% of inverter-based resources that are connected to the bulk-power system are not currently required to register with the North American Electric Reliability Corp. or adhere to its reliability standards.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 21, 2023

Offshore wind plan from Energy, Interior departments aims for regional collaboration, clarity on transmission planning

"Dissimilar or even disparate policies, processes, goals, and priorities” across states and transmission planning bodies are a barrier, the agencies said.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 20, 2023

Maryland officials press FERC to reject PJM directive to Exelon for $785M in transmission upgrades

The PJM Interconnection failed to consider energy storage and other options to handle Talen Energy’s plan to retire its Brandon Shores power plant, according to Maryland officials.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Sept. 21, 2023

Rising electrification requires a dramatic shift to integrated planning of DER, bulk resources: Xcel VP

Effective distribution system planning and merging analytic insights into comprehensive electricity planning both face barriers, analysts and stakeholders said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 20, 2023

SOO Green underground transmission line between MISO, PJM clears key hurdle with Iowa approval

The proposed 350-mile SOO Green project advances as two Democrats introduce a bill in Congress to spur interregional transmission capacity, partly to bolster grid reliability.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 18, 2023

Xcel to supply United Power with excess energy after co-op’s exit from Tri-State

As Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association loses members over cost and sustainability concerns, departing utilities are working to secure alternative energy supplies.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 18, 2023

Unlocking grid potential: Paving the way for renewable energy

Unleash Grid Potential and Boost Renewables: PPL's $23 Million Savings Story with DLR and AAR Technologies Revealed!

Sept. 18, 2023

Savings inside the meter: Real-time embedded software could save utilities over $1 billion annually

Access to real-time data leads to major cost savings. The annual conservation benefit derived from Sense-enabled smart meters (before the implementation of any load flexibility programs) could exceed $1.3 billion annually by the end of the decade.

Sept. 18, 2023

Southwest Power Pool expands Western reach with commitments from WAPA, Basin Electric

Seven utilities now plan to join the Southwest Power Pool and participate in Western interconnect markets beginning in early 2026.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 15, 2023

The grid needs to get together

To transform the grid to meet the reliability and resilience needs of consumers, we must have meaningful interregional transmission policy in this country.

By Kelly Speakes-Backman • Sept. 14, 2023

MISO: 49 GW has received interconnection approval, but projects face major delays

The roughly two-year delays in building generation and storage come as the Midcontinent Independent System Operator faces looming capacity shortfalls.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 14, 2023

LS Power, Pattern Energy, others behind 36 ‘ready-to-go’ transmission projects: report

Ten major transmission projects moving to construction is a sign of progress, but key challenges remain, Grid Strategies said in the report released Wednesday.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 13, 2023

Duke, AEP, Exelon among those primed to benefit from transmission investment: Moody’s

Despite the significant need for transmission investment, the credit ratings agency said siting and permitting “remains a bottleneck.”

By Robert Walton • Sept. 12, 2023

Moody’s raises utility sector outlook to ‘stable’ while Bank of America remains cautious

Analysts at Bank of America say utility stocks are “close to fairly valued," with wildfires posing an existential threat to some.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 8, 2023

ERCOT forced to declare emergency conditions in extreme heat as Texas flirts with blackouts

Experts say battery resources may have kept the grid operator from declaring rolling blackouts amid low renewables output and high thermal outages.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 7, 2023

To spur clean energy, transmission buildout, NRDC calls for focus on affected communities

The Natural Resources Defense Council on Wednesday recommended steps to lift clean energy barriers, including quickly designating “national interest” transmission corridors.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 7, 2023