For the first time in four years, regional grid operator PJM Interconnection is adding new generation projects to its interconnection queue.
PJM, serving 67 million people across parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia, announced that 811 new generation projects, capable of generating 220 gigawatts, have applied to join the grid through the first cycle of its reformed interconnection process.
However, advocates and legislators indicate that reopening the queue offers no immediate relief for consumers. The prolonged delay has significantly affected states like Maryland, which depended on renewable energy projects to meet mandated emissions reduction and decarbonization targets.
For Maryland, with a goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035 and net zero by 2045, the interconnection backlog coincided with policy changes under the Trump administration that hindered clean energy incentives.
PJM closed the queue in 2022 following a surge of clean energy applications that caused a backlog exceeding 300 gigawatts. The grid operator paused new application reviews to streamline its process.
The interconnection queue involves reviewing new generation projects to assess necessary upgrades for the transmission system. Historically, projects took over two years to progress through the queue.
After the 2022 closure, PJM began studying projects in clusters rather than individually. Developers were asked to resubmit their applications ahead of the April 27 deadline to be evaluated under the reformed process, known as Cycle 1.
PJM announced receiving 811 new generation projects with 220 gigawatts capacity. Natural gas dominates by capacity at 105.8 gigawatts across 157 projects, while storage leads by project count at 349 projects and 66.5 gigawatts. Solar and wind account for 14.8 and 4.7 gigawatts, respectively.
Renewable energy advocates lament the loss during the queue’s four-year freeze. Jon Gordon from Advanced Energy United termed the logjam “a lost opportunity.” Of 300 gigawatts backlogged in 2022, 95% were renewables and storage, but 74% withdrew over the period.
Gordon noted the shift to gas projects driven by data center demand. He criticized PJM’s focus on large single interconnection studies over smaller clean energy projects.
PJM spokesperson Jeffrey Shields stated the reformed interconnection process represents a shift to a first-ready-first-served model, aimed at filtering speculative projects. He countered claims that the queue closure harmed renewables, stating PJM processed agreements for 103 gigawatts since 2020, mostly renewables.
In Maryland, projects totaling 1.6 gigawatts with agreements could start immediately, with another 1.8 gigawatts under study. Shields emphasized that project delays often stem from permitting hurdles, not PJM.
Maryland Del. Lorig Charkoudian criticized PJM’s bias against renewables, noting the queue’s closure coincided with available federal solar and wind tax credits. She acknowledged improvements in the reformed queue but emphasized the importance of evaluating which of the 800-plus projects are ready to proceed.
David Lapp, Maryland’s People’s Counsel, blamed PJM for project financing collapses due to lengthy study times. He linked interconnection delays to costly reliability payments to keep coal plants operational.
Shields denied that queue delays forced ratepayers to maintain coal plants. He asserted PJM’s responsibility for maintaining electric reliability for 67 million people, including those in Maryland.
Tom Rutigliano from the Natural Resources Defense Council viewed the queue reopening positively due to significant storage volume in Cycle 1. He criticized fast-track processes as discriminatory, citing network upgrades as a bottleneck for new power plants.
Gordon supported this view, doubting natural gas plants in Cycle 1 could produce power before 2033. He emphasized PJM’s reformed process still takes one to two years to complete studies, questioning if it will achieve the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s 150-day benchmark.
Rutigliano suggested states and PJM should pursue strategies like adding storage at existing sites to alleviate costs, as the reformed process progresses.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org