Bill accelerates process for connecting dispatchable power sources to the grid
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the GRID Power Act, a bill aimed at giving dispatchable power plants priority in interconnection queues. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Troy Balderson, R-Ohio, seeks to address the current delays in the interconnection queue, where power projects can wait for years.
The GRID Power Act requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to start a rulemaking process to implement the legislation within 90 days after it becomes law. FERC will have 60 days to review proposals from regional transmission organizations and independent system operators, such as PJM Interconnection for the Mid-Atlantic region, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) for California and parts of the West, and the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), among others.
However, the GRID Power Act does not represent a permanent barrier or level of discrimination against non-dispatchable projects, according to Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) President and CEO Todd Snitcher. He stated that if the immediate reliability need doesn't exist or can't be explained, and FERC isn't convinced both to the urgency and efficiency of the proposal, then queue prioritization does not take place.
The proposals must show that the projects would bolster grid reliability and resilience. The Electric Power Supply Association, a trade group for power producers, supports the bill, while environmental groups like the Sierra Club express concerns. The Sierra Club believes that the GRID Power Act would hinder the building of energy sources that can be built more quickly than fossil-fueled power plants.
Beyond Fossil Fuels Policy Director Mahyar Sorour criticised the bill, stating that House Republicans are blocking clean energy progress and prop up dirty, expensive energy sources of the past. He also claimed that the GRID Power Act, along with two other energy bills, would only ensure that rates continue to climb, as energy prices already skyrocket due to Trump blocking clean energy investment.
Sens. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Todd Young, R-Ind., have introduced a companion bill in the Senate for the GRID Power Act. The future of the bill remains uncertain as it navigates through the Senate and FERC's rulemaking process. The bill, if passed, could significantly impact the energy landscape in the United States by prioritising dispatchable power plants in the interconnection queue.
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