Transmission reform in the US

In this paper, we report on two analyses that support the need to reform processes for transmission and generator interconnection planning in the US. The first develops methodologies to quantify the multiple benefits of transmission and applies these methodologies in two sample transmission projects. Using 40 years of weather data, a methodology is developed to examine resilience to extreme weather events. Extensive sensitivity analysis is conducted across renewable energy and fossil-fuelled generator levels, gas prices, and load growth rates, to examine risk mitigation. Loss-of-load expectation analysis is used to examine resource adequacy benefits. Adjusted production cost, emissions, and enablement of high-quality renewable resources are also quantified. These methodologies are applied to two types of example transmission projects in ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) to demonstrate a value-stacking approach. The second investigates cost savings for new generator interconnections through a proactive planned approach. A proactive planned approach can study larger numbers of projects or even look forward to anticipate projects due to public policies and may be able to right-size transmission facilities for the longer term rather than sequentially building many small facilities. In this analysis, we compare generator interconnection costs across three different levels of proactiveness in MISO (Midcontinent ISO) and SPP (Southwest Power Pool) to understand the importance of a proactive, planned approach for generator interconnection.