Similar to roads, the electrical transmission system in the United States is increasingly clogged. This is creating growing delays bringing new solar and wind projects online and driving up costs. The U.S. needs to deploy current-day technologies to unclog the existing transmission system, in addition to building new transmission, in allow the clean energy transition to continue.
solar and wind projects are stacking up in interconnection queues and can’t get built
In many areas of the United States, new, large clean energy projects are waiting over 5 years to get built and interconnect to the transmission system. Delays increase dramatically every year, and the cost to interconnect is increasing as well. While the interconnection study process is also a part of the problem, the clogged transmission infrastructure is a core underlying issue.
Justin - this data is old, we need to pull new data, and actually I need to do that for a client, so I will provide an updated version of this chart if we decide to use it. We need data to show an increasing trend of projects waiting in the queue.
Much of the U.S. is already blanketed by transmission lines that are not optimized
In order to maintain critical reliability, the transmission system is designed to be highly redundant and optimized for the expected hottest or coldest hour in the coming decade. Technologies are available to quickly optimize the transmission infrastructure, without compromising reliability.
Central and eastern US are already heavily blanketed by transmission lines which can be optimized to enable faster interconnection of renewables in those regions. Much of the western US needs new transmission to access renewable resources in the region.
New transmission lines can take a decade to plan and build
The dramatic increase in clean generation cannot be built in timely manner by relying on new transmission lines alone, which can easily take a decade to plan and build. While new high voltage transmission lines are important to accessing all of the wind resources in the great plains and the solar in the south west, relying only on poles and wires solutions is neither cost effective nor a timely solution. Finally, conservation efforts of sensitive resources require alternatives to be considered before building new transmission lines.
(Need a good graph & data source showing increasing trend on time to complete new transmission lines)
Key Recommendations (REPLACE WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR PAPER):
INTEGRATE DER
Give distribution companies and DER providers the responsibility to integrate distributed resources through the following: interconnection reform, valued based compensation mechanisms, advanced inverter functionality and targeted incentives to extend the environmental and economic benefits of DER to all of New Jersey’s citizens. These efforts should be led by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities working with relevant distribution companies and conducted in consultation with contributing and impacted stakeholders.
EMBRACE ELECTRIFICATION OF BUILDINGS AND TRANSPORTATION
Encourage strategic electrification of buildings and transportation to reduce emissions. This will improve air quality throughout the region, make energy more affordable for customers, and increase customer satisfaction. If done right, the State of New Jersey can accomplish all of this without increasing costs to customers.
ENSURE AN EQUITY LENS IN PLANNING
In order to achieve Governor Murphy’s Energy Master Plan to empower all underserved communities, Holistic Grid Planning must be inclusive and maintain an economic equity lens to fully benefit all of New Jersey’s communities.
HOLISTIC GRID PLANNING
Conduct Holistic Grid Planning to assess different portfolios of bulk renewable and distributed energy resources that are capable of meeting New Jersey’s 100% carbon free goal. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities should lead this planning and work with relevant state agencies, distribution companies, and consult with contributing and impacted stakeholders. New Jersey’s underserved communities should be prioritized throughout this planning process.
(provide ready made tweetable content)
New report provides four recommendations to ensure distributed energy is an integral part of New Jersey’s transition to clean energy.
about the authors (REPLACE WITH INFO ABOUT ELPC, CRI AND GRIDPOLICY):
Gridworks: Gridworks’ mission is to convene, educate and empower stakeholders working to decarbonize electricity grids.
GridLab: GridLab provides technical grid expertise to enhance policy decision-making and to ensure a rapid transition to a reliable, cost effective, and low carbon future.
Center for Renewables Integration: Working with state policy makers to support the development of effective energy policy which enables high percentage of renewable generation, while maintaining reliability, at the lowest cost.
Click images below to share report on twitter
“A brilliant quote from Jon”
“A brilliant quote from Howard”
“Ideally, a quote from AWEA and/or SEIA and/or REBA”
“A brilliant quote from Kerinia”
“Whoever else we can get a quote from”
“Rooftop solar should be at the cornerstone of our energy system. This report from Gridworks, GridLab, and the Center of Renewables Integration provides a clear roadmap for how New Jersey gets there. Governor Murphy and the Legislature must take these recommendations seriously and include them in New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan.”
“This paper outlines a clear path forward for distributed energy resources and will enable the New Jersey solar economy to thrive. Alongside these best practices, we’ll need smart federal tax policies and a smooth transition to a new incentive program to continue New Jersey’s leadership on clean energy. We’re committed to engaging with the Board of Public Utilities and our partners on these short-term policy priorities as we work to promote certainty in the New Jersey solar market.”
“DER will play a critical role in helping New Jersey achieve 100% carbon free energy, and this paper offers excellent guidance for maximizing the benefits of DER on the grid. Community solar is poised to play a leading role as an eminently scalable distributed energy resource that can offer access to clean energy for all. We look forward to working with all DER providers and key decision makers in New Jersey to ensure community solar is largely included into the distributed energy resource mix that is currently being planned.”
“This report not only highlights the benefits of Community Solar to consumers who don’t otherwise have hassle-free access to solar, but it underscores that Community Solar deployment at a much larger scale than is currently contemplated is a minimum requirement for meeting New Jersey’s ambitious clean energy goals. Policy makers will need to take these findings into consideration as they look to match higher and higher renewable standards with a concrete execution plan to get there because the status quo does not currently do that.”