To Transmission Followers:
As you are likely now aware, on April 21 FERC announced its long-anticipated notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) on transmission planning. Tracking almost exactly with the recommendations in the Macro Grid Initiative (MGI)-commissioned Planning for the Future report, the NOPR received a 4-1 bipartisan vote of support from the Commission and represents the most significant transmission planning rulemaking in over a decade.
Notably, the NOPR cited MGI-sponsored reports from ACEG and ACORE 59 times. The analytical and coalition-building groundwork that MGI laid over the last two years also paid off, with little to no public opposition to the rule – in stark contrast to previous FERC transmission rulemakings or other significant rules with power sector impacts, such as the EPA's proposed Clean Power Plan. NOPR highlights include:
- longer-term (i.e., 20 year) planning horizons for regional transmission
- portfolio approach engaging multiple scenarios
- broader definition of transmission benefits
- engaging state agreement on transmission facility cost allocation
Going forward, ensuring that regional stakeholders and consumer groups understand and support the rule is critical. To that end, MGI has recently presented at NARUC’s ‘Resilience for Regulators’ educational briefing and hosted a webinar featuring leading consumer groups and consumer advocates, including Google, the Electricity Consumers Resource Council, the Large Public Power Council, and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. MGI also separately presented to 20 state consumer advocates during a National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates webinar.
On Capitol Hill, MGI is continuing to provide educational briefings on the benefits of an expanded and upgraded transmission grid. Over the last two months, we’ve met with nine more offices that serve on key energy-related committees. On April 20, House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Chair Kathy Castor (FL-14) led a bicameral letter urging FERC to accelerate the clean energy transition by improving transmission planning, citing two MGI reports: ‘Transmission Makes the Power System Resilient to Extreme Weather’ and ‘Disconnected: The Need for a New Generator Interconnection Policy.’ (Link to the press release).
In case you missed it, on March 15, MGI released a new report highlighting the benefits of using advanced conductors. The report found that installing advanced conductors on 50,000 miles of existing transmission would save consumers at least $140 billion over the next decade. Representatives from ERCOT and the Niskanen Center joined a panel for the release event. Staff from FERC, NARUC, U.S. Senate offices, utilities, and trade associations attended the event, along with reporters and utility regulators.
MGI also continues to grow our coalition of supporting organizations, adding the National Wildlife Federation and the Grid Wise Alliance as Vision Statement supporters in the last couple months. With thanks to Berkshire Hathaway Energy for providing the venue, on May 12 we held an event commemorating MGI’s second anniversary to recognize and thank our now 32 supporting organizations.
Lastly, MGI and MGI-produced work products also continue to receive mentions in leading news publications, including:
Thank you all for your continuing interest in MGI.
Best regards,
Barbara Tyran
Director of Macro Grid Initiative
American Council on Renewable Energy
1150 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 401 | Washington, D.C. 20036
E: tyran@acore.org | P: 202-777-7590
