FERC Interconnection Efforts "Raise the Floor" on Grid Decarbonization Pathways

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) held a meeting on a forthcoming rule to improve interregional transmission. During their presentation, commissioners previewed efforts to standardize processes across different grid operators, increase accountability for action, and usher in grid-enhancing technology.

Following is a statement from John Moore, director of the Sustainable FERC Project at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council.)

"In the race to combat climate change and transform the power system, fixing interconnection - the largely broken system for connecting wind, solar, and storage to the power grid - is critical.  The rules FERC approved at today's meeting will improve and standardize interconnection processes across all grid operators, usher in new clean technology, improve grid efficiency and reliability, and require accountability for bringing new sources online. This forthcoming rule will raise the floor on action, but the ceiling will depend on grid operators taking leadership and increasing the capability and capacity of the grid. The devil will be in the details, and we are eager to see FERC's rule."

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law, and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health, and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd). Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.