The PJM Interconnection Board has approved $1.8 billion in electric transmission system additions and upgrades for the grid necessary to keep the lights on in years ahead as the U.S. works to increase its supply of renewable energy. The improvements are meant to enhance the reliability of the power supply system serving 51 million people in 13 states east of the Mississippi, and the District of Columbia.
The current authorized upgrades and improvements are comprised of dozens of projects within most of PJM’s transmission zones. Most of the new projects are forecast to be less than $50 million in investment individually.
PJM Interconnection is a regional transmission organization (RTO) that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in the world’s largest competitive wholesale electricity market, which includes all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
"With the increasing importance of transmission infrastructure in facilitating solutions for our future energy needs, it is critical to have a robust transmission system. Once again by working with the stakeholders, we have identified improvements that will mitigate potential reliability threats," said Terry Boston, PJM’s president and CEO.
System upgrades were authorized for the transmission zones of Atlantic
Electric, Baltimore Gas and Electric, Delmarva Power and Light, MetEd,
PECO Energy, Penelec, Pepco, PPL, PSE&G, Jersey Central Power and
Light, American Electric Power, Allegheny Power System, Commonwealth
Edison and Dominion Virginia Power.
However, there were no new major backbone transmission infrastructure lines authorized by the board at this time.
There are almost 96,000 megawatts (MW) of proposed new generation under development through the interconnection process, with 8,300 MW of projects under construction. Since the RTEP process began, more than 19,000 MW of new generation has been connected to the grid.
The PJM Board has authorized a cumulative $11.6 billion in transmission
improvements since 2000 when PJM’s first Regional Transmission
Expansion Plan (RTEP) was approved.
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