Tory Lauterbach’s Post

Grid reliability, transmission reform and power markets are among the top issues FERC addressed — and FERC commissioners commented on — this year, setting the stage for 2024.

On March 21, 2024, FERC proposed revising its reactive power compensation rules to limit compensation for interconnection customers to instances when the transmission provider requests operation outside the standard power factor range defined in the interconnection agreement. Husch Blackwell's Linda Walsh discusses FERC's proposal to limit reactive power compensation: https://lnkd.in/gaaZGiRu #energyregulation #FERC #reactivepower

Yesterday the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued the long-awaited Order No. 1920 addressing much-needed transmission planning reforms. If we’re going to meet the ambitious target of zero carbon emissions in the domestic power sector by 2035, we’ll need the transmission infrastructure to accommodate the continued deployment of substantial new renewable energy generating facilities necessary to meet those targets. Learn more below in the client alert my White & Case LLP colleagues and I coauthored. Cc: Daniel Hagan, John Forbush, Jacqueline Triggs, Aaron Bryant #transmission #FERC #DOE #energy #electricity #power #regulatory #renewables #netzero #infrastructure #utilities #transmissionplanning #reform #datacenters #AI #gridmodernization #reliability #benefitsanalysis #electrification #costallocation #energysecurity #environmentaljustice #justice40 🔗: https://lnkd.in/gskb8epb

What exactly does FERC Order 2023 entail and how will it contribute to reducing the interconnection queue? For starters, Order 2023 mandates several changes to reduce the interconnection queue. #transmission https://lnkd.in/enDfCtBx

Important comments from Larry Gasteiger on FERC's upcoming planning rule highlighting the importance of addressing a key barrier to regional transmission development - Order 1000 solicitations. Effective regional planning requires open collaboration between RTOs, transmission owners, and regional stakeholders. The Order 1000 solicitation process inhibits collaboration, delays needed projects, and ultimately deprives customers of crucial transmission benefits. A balanced FERC rule needs to address this hurdle to drive the open and collaborative long-term regional transmission planning we need.

#ICYMI: On May 13, 2024, FERC approved a groundbreaking final rule—Order No. 1920. This rule requires public utilities to undertake new long-term regional transmission planning over a 20-year horizon and allocate the cost of selected transmission projects in a manner that corresponds to the benefits they provide. Our Linda Walsh, Sylvia Bartell, Mike Blackwell, and Corban Coffman present an overview of the rule and next steps in the FERC proceeding. #EnergyRegulation #Utilities

FERC Order 2023 is a good first step towards addressing the problems that have arisen over the past two decades in transmission and interconnection, but still raises several questions about the interconnection process and how it can be more forward-looking from a planning and policy perspective. In this commentary, my colleagues and I discuss the policy landscape for reducing interconnection delays. https://ceepr.link/46M4gIY

It was an exciting Monday on many fronts: 1) FERC issued a strong Regional Transmission Planning Rule (and backstop authority for NIETC projects) and 2) I was quoted in the The New York Times in their coverage on the Transmission Planning FERC rule. While I spoke to the reporter last Friday at length about why everyone should care about what today's FERC transmission rule will say, he quoted me about my experience has a State Regulator, serving on the The Organization of MISO States, Inc. when a diverse group of MISO State regulators engaged in constructive conversations on cost allocation, and ultimately voted on a set of cost allocation principles. Like most issues on transmission planning, the topics are complex and tough to find broad agreement, but always worth the effort. I applaud The New York Times for covering a highly technical, wonky subject like the FERC Transmission Planning Rule and look forward to more national coverage in the coming weeks and months on this important topic that impacts our daily lives. #transmission

Our states need to be aligned if we are to create the interconnection needed to facilitate any transition! Transmission delays add to blackout risk https://lnkd.in/gjMPyHPB

A recent report from RMI shows collaborative transmission planning is a win-win economic opportunity for states across the West – lowering costs and breaking the bottleneck transmission currently places on growing the clean electricity market. https://lnkd.in/gAR3md82