Our country’s electric grid is in a state of rapid transition. As the grid shifts towards clean energy…
Climate Change• FERC• Reliability and Resilience• Transmission
FERC Begins to Plan for the Age of Extreme Weather
September 12, 2022This summer has confirmed what the world’s top climate scientists have warned about for years: Climate change is causing more…
When I raced sailboats on Lake Michigan, so much of the action took place before the start. Each…
The electric system is undergoing a major transformation driven by consumer preferences for low-carbon electricity, state clean energy…
The Midwest grid operator, Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), just approved the largest investment in transmission lines ever…
How should grid operators plan for the shift to a clean energy future? Traditional transmission planning is based…
Gas• Planning• Reliability and Resilience• Transmission
The Texas Storm That Proved the Need for Grid Investments
February 9, 2022It has been a year since Winter Storm Uri left millions of people without power. The United States…
Most people believe the United States has a power grid that stretches from coast to coast. But the reality is that we have…
FERC• Planning• Reliability and Resilience• Transmission
Building a Better (and Cleaner!) Electric Grid
October 21, 2021Many people have wondered how we will decarbonize our grid given the fact that the wind doesn’t always…
FERC• Renewable Energy• Transmission
Plan for the Grid We Need, Not the Grid We Have
October 13, 2021Our power grid is stuck in the 20th century; we are more than two decades overdue for an…
Cutting emissions from our power grid is going to require a lot more transmission lines. And, I mean, a lot. Long distance…
MISO• Planning• Transmission
We Don’t Have Time To Waste In Planning Our Electric Grid For A Renewable Energy Future, 2035 Is Tomorrow
June 17, 2021By Andy Kowalczyk of 350 New Orleans, reposted from 350NewOrleans.org There are good reasons to invest in new…
MISO• Planning• Transmission
Why Should We Care About MISO’s Long Range Transmission Planning?
June 15, 2021By James Gignac and Sam Gomberg of Union of Concerned Scientists, reposted from ucusa.org A colleague of ours…
MISO• Planning• Transmission
MISO’s long-term planning will play a key role in decarbonization
June 15, 2021By Hannah Payne of Fresh Energy, reposted from Fresh-Energy.org At Fresh Energy, we are working to ensure Minnesota…
Climate Change• MISO• Planning• Reliability and Resilience• Renewable Energy• States• Transmission
After Texas, a New Spotlight on Long-Distance Transmission in MISO
March 5, 2021Last month, a winter storm caused millions to lose power in Texas; tragically, some lost their lives. The…
Climate Change• MISO• Planning• Reliability and Resilience• Renewable Energy• SPP• States• Transmission
MISO and SPP Can Benefit From a More Connected Grid
March 3, 2021This blog was co-written with Andy Kowalcyzk, an independent consultant focusing on MISO South. Electric grids across the Midwest,…
Here at NRDC and Sustainable FERC Project, we are working towards the clean energy future, and so is…
Climate Change• FERC• Gas• LNG• Markets• Pipelines• Renewable Energy• Transmission
FERC Can Lead the Way on Clean Energy
January 21, 2021Yesterday President Biden named Rich Glick to be the new chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the nation’s energy regulator. After years in…
MISO• Renewable Energy• Transmission
New analysis: Midwest and Southern leaders are letting crucial clean energy projects slip away
November 23, 2020As the old adage goes, you only regret the shots you didn’t take. Our newly refreshed, interactive online…
MISO• Planning• Renewable Energy• States• Transmission
New MISO Grid Plan Could Solve Power Supply Problems
August 13, 2020The mid-continent’s electric grid is facing serious challenges. With more utilities and states aiming for ambitious clean energy…
Grid planning for an achievable clean energy future is at a crossroads. The rapid growth in wind and…
Demand Response• Energy Efficiency• FERC• Reliability and Resilience• Renewable Energy• Transmission
Reliability Experts to FERC: Focus on “No Regrets” Actions
August 1, 2018By John Moore, Director & Gillian Giannetti, Staff Attorney The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) held its annual…
Planning• Reliability and Resilience• Renewable Energy• Transmission
Regulator Confirms Electric Reliability and Resilience Continue to Improve
June 21, 2018By Michael Goggin, Vice President at Grid Strategies LLC “Grid Shows Improved Resilience” is the headline of the…
Distributed Energy Resources• FERC• Reliability and Resilience• Transmission
Grid Resilience Efforts Should Focus on Customer Benefits
May 3, 2018By John Moore, Director & Gillian Giannetti, Staff Attorney In the time since U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)…
Energy Storage• FERC• ISO-NE• Markets• MISO• PJM• Reliability and Resilience• Transmission
Electric Grid Resilience and FERC: What Happens Next?
March 7, 2018On March 9, the nation’s regional grid operators are poised to tell their regulator—the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission…
Capacity Market• Distributed Energy Resources• Energy Storage• FERC• Markets• Transmission
FERC Storage Rule a Win for a More Flexible Grid
February 20, 2018By Jennifer Chen, NRDC Alum The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the agency overseeing the competitiveness of the…
Capacity Market• Demand Response• Distributed Energy Resources• Energy Efficiency• Markets• Reliability and Resilience• Renewable Energy• Transmission• West
Transforming the Grid Is Essential for a Safe Climate Future
October 11, 2017This is part of a series of blogs on NRDC’s new report, “America’s Clean Energy Frontier: The Pathway to…
Capacity Market• Gas• Planning• Reliability and Resilience• Renewable Energy• Transmission
DOE’s Grid Study: Clinging to the Past
August 24, 2017By John Moore, Director and Miles Farmer, NRDC Alum DOE’s long-awaited grid study grasps for any possible rationale to support…
Congress• Distributed Energy Resources• FERC• Gas• Pipelines• Reliability and Resilience• Renewable Energy• States• Transmission
Senate Approves FERC Nominees; Agency Regains Quorum
August 3, 2017The Senate has confirmed President Trump’s nominees to fill two of the four open seats on the Federal…
Capacity Market• Demand Response• Distributed Energy Resources• Energy Efficiency• Pipelines• Reliability and Resilience• Renewable Energy• Transmission
Clean Energy, Not More Coal, Better for Health and the Grid
May 12, 2017The Trump Administration continues to promote its “coal above all” mantra. Department of Energy Secretary Perry claimed last…
Distributed Energy Resources• FERC• Gas• Pipelines• Planning• Renewable Energy• States• Transmission
Trump Picks Two for FERC – Will Bipartisanship Continue?
May 9, 2017President Trump has finally announced his intent to nominate candidates for two of the three open seats on…
Demand Response• FERC• ISO-NE• MISO• PJM• Transmission
Highlights from the June FERC Open Meeting
June 24, 2016By John Bullock, NRDC Summer Intern FERC finalizes updates to price formation, removing barriers for flexible energy resources.…
FERC• MISO• NYISO• States• Transmission
More Recent FERC Decisions: Week of April 4th, 2016
April 26, 2016By Tim Murphy, Program Assistant, Energy & Transportation Program FERC denies NY agencies’ attempt to stop AIM pipeline…
Demand Response• FERC• Reliability and Resilience• Renewable Energy• Transmission
Highlights from the March FERC Open Meeting
March 25, 2016By Miles Farmer, NRDC Alum FERC Will Address Issues Related to Competitive Transmission Development (AD16-18). On June 27…
CAISO• FERC• Reliability and Resilience• Transmission• West
Highlights from the February FERC Open Meeting
March 2, 2016Notice of Inquiry on Primary Frequency Response. In Docket No. RM16-6, FERC issued a Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on the need…
Distributed Energy Resources• Energy Efficiency• Reliability and Resilience• Renewable Energy• States• Transmission
Reliability Prescription for States for Cutting Carbon Pollution: Plan Ahead, Plan Together
February 9, 2016By John Moore, Senior Attorney, The Sustainable FERC Project The Clean Power Plan requires states to take grid…
Capacity Market• Demand Response• Distributed Energy Resources• FERC• Gas• Markets• MISO• Pipelines• Reliability and Resilience• Transmission
Highlights from the January FERC Open Meeting
January 27, 2016By Miles Farmer, NRDC Alum While it’s fair to say that the Supreme Court’s landmark decision affirming FERC’s…
FERC• Planning• Reliability and Resilience• Transmission
New FERC Guidance Will Help States Craft Better Plans to Cut Carbon Pollution
January 20, 2016New guidance from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will help states develop more reliable (and affordable) compliance…
Capacity Market• Demand Response• Energy Efficiency• FERC• Markets• MISO• PJM• Reliability and Resilience• Renewable Energy• Transmission
Highlights from the November FERC Open Meeting
December 9, 2015By Miles Farmer, NRDC Alum Promoting Competitive Provision of Primary Frequency Response Service (RM15-2). In February 2015, FERC…
Demand Response• Distributed Energy Resources• Energy Efficiency• Reliability and Resilience• Renewable Energy• Transmission
New Texas Grid Operator Report on the Clean Power Plan Is No Cause for Alarm
October 20, 2015October 20, 2015 by John Moore, Senior Attorney, The Sustainable FERC Project Written with the assistance of David…
Capacity Market• Energy Efficiency• PJM• Transmission
What’s the (Demand) Forecast? More Energy Efficiency on the Radar
October 15, 2015By Jennifer Chen, NRDC Alum Accurately forecasting electricity demand is critical to ensuring that grid operators plan for…
Energy Efficiency• Planning• Reliability and Resilience• Renewable Energy• States• Transmission
10 Ways the Clean Power Plan Protects Electric Grid Reliability
August 5, 2015EPA’s just-released Clean Power Plan final standards will cut carbon pollution from our nation’s power plants while protecting…
Capacity Market• FERC• ISO-NE• PJM• Reliability and Resilience• Renewable Energy• Transmission
FERC June Open Meeting Decisions of Interest
June 23, 2015By Eric DeBellis, NRDC Legal Intern ISO New England, Inc., Docket No. ER15-1137-000 FERC accepted ISO New England’s…
ISO New England Inc., Docket No. ER13-1957-000, et al. FERC conditionally accepted the Order 1000 interregional transmission coordination…
Demand Response• Energy Efficiency• Energy Storage• FERC• Renewable Energy• Transmission
Important Electric Grid Recommendations from the U.S. Department of Energy’s New Report
April 27, 2015By Jennifer Chen, NRDC Alum The Department of Energy (DOE) recently released its first installment of its Quadrennial…
FERC• Gas• ISO-NE• Markets• NYISO• Pipelines• Reliability and Resilience• SPP• Transmission
Highlights from FERC’s April Open Meeting Decisions
April 22, 2015Welcome and congratulations to Norman Bay, who took over as Chairman of FERC on April 15! Here are…
Capacity Market• Demand Response• FERC• Litigation• Reliability and Resilience• Transmission
Environmental and Consumer Advocacy Groups Ask U.S. Supreme Court to Hear FERC’s Case for a Clean Energy Resource
February 17, 2015By Jennifer Chen, NRDC Alum NRDC together with 11 other environmental and consumer advocacy groups today filed a…
Energy Storage• MISO• Reliability and Resilience• Renewable Energy• Transmission
Positive Developments in the Search for the Holy Grail of Renewable Energy
November 18, 2014Nov 18, 2014 by Steve Dahlke Steve Dahlke is a Policy Associate for the Great Plains Institute. King Arthur…
Energy Efficiency• Gas• Renewable Energy• SPP• Transmission• Uncategorized
Great Plains Power Grid Operator Sowing Confusion about the Clean Power Plan
October 9, 2014This post was updated following the public release of the study. The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Clean Power…
Energy Efficiency• Planning• Renewable Energy• Transmission
Court Upholds FERC Order 1000: Major Victory for Clean Energy and Consumers
August 15, 2014Terrific news! A federal court today upheld in its entirety the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) groundbreaking electric…