FERC Issues Final Rule Reforming Interconnection Process 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a final rule today to improve the interconnection process to address the growing backlog of projects – mostly wind, solar, and storage resources – waiting in queues nationwide. Following is a statement from American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) President and CEO Gregory Wetstone:

“America’s interconnection queues have a backlog of nearly 2,000 gigawatts of low-cost clean energy projects that could be enhancing grid reliability, saving electricity consumers money, and helping address our climate imperative. Today, a typical project takes five years to move through the interconnection queue and come online. This is significantly longer than the three-year time frame for a project in 2015 – and it is a completely unacceptable pace if we are to have any shot at meeting our nation’s clean energy targets. This new rule from FERC is an important first step on this crucial issue for the energy transition, and I am pleased to see some improvements from the proposed rule, including measures to advance the use of grid enhancing technologies. But it is only a start. We encourage the Commission to build on today’s forward progress in addressing the grid backlog by finalizing a rulemaking requiring comprehensive long-term transmission planning, initiating a process to reform the dysfunctional funding model for new transmission lines, and establishing a minimum transfer capability requirement to help address the clear need for greater interregional transmission. These steps will lower electricity costs, enhance grid reliability, and provide for a cleaner and more climate-safe electrical grid.”

 

Background:

ACORE submitted comments in October 2022 in response to FERC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Improvements to Generator Interconnection Procedures and Agreements. ACORE’s press release and comments are available here.

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About ACORE:
For more than 20 years, the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) has been the nation’s premier pan-renewable nonprofit organization. ACORE unites finance, policy and technology to accelerate the transition to a renewable energy economy. For more information, please visit www.acore.org.

Media Contacts:

Alex Hobson
Sr. Vice President, Communications
American Council on Renewable Energy
hobson@acore.org | 202.777.7584 (o) | 202.594.0706 (c)

Dylan Helms
Associate, Communications
American Council on Renewable Energy
helms@acore.org | 202.891.7868 (o) | 727.290.8804 (c)