US Grid Connection Policy Doesn’t Do Enough for Clean Energy

Although clean energy production from wind and solar is expanding rapidly in the U.S., weak grid connection policies hinder its integration into the national grid.

As a result, thousands of new renewable energy facilities are waiting to be connected to the grid.

Researchers spotlight the network connectivity problem in a new study and wonder whether reforms to federal network policy alone will be enough to solve it.

They argued that while recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) orders to address the issue are a step in the right direction, underlying problems remain unresolved.

Current State of Clean Energy Production in the U.S.

In the U.S., electricity production from utility-scale wind and solar overtook coal for the first time in April 2022, and then again between February and May 2023.

The Inflation Control Act is expected to significantly increase the addition of low-emission capacity, potentially doubling annual growth.

However, there is a significant backlog of thousands of new grid connection projects, and the waiting time from submitting an application to obtaining approval can be up to several years.

In response to problems with the grid connection process, FERC has issued a set of reforms that encourage early completion of projects, impose penalties for delays and mandate long-term grid upgrades with more equitable cost sharing.

Scientists say better rules for connecting networks are needed

The researchers identified a number of issues that remain unresolved, including the need for a more centralised approach to planning and better integration of grid connections and transmission policies.

A historical lack of coordination and conflicting state goals also hinder effective network development, underscoring the need for a more coordinated and comprehensive strategy.

“Moving forward, Congress and the federal government must move toward a more coordinated and comprehensive planning approach that allows FERC to overcome local and regional resistance if it is to contribute to the Biden administration’s goal of decarbonizing our electricity system,” the researchers said.

They concluded: “A fundamental requirement is to set a national decarbonisation target that will provide the impetus for truly national planning for the 21st century electricity grid.”