Future of Transmission Planning and Policy in Focus at Infocast Summit

AI generated summary

The Infocast Transmission and Interconnection Summit highlighted the challenges and future of transmission planning in the energy sector, particularly in light of recent legislative developments. Rob Gramlich, President of Grid Strategies, criticized the Inflation Reduction Act for neglecting transmission issues, emphasizing the need for bipartisan permitting legislation to facilitate necessary reforms. As Congress focuses on budget bills, there is hope that permitting discussions will resume in the fall, with support for changes growing across party lines.

Recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) orders, particularly Order 1920 and Order 2023, aim to improve transmission planning and cost allocation. However, the implementation of these orders varies by region, which could impact the effectiveness of reforms. Industry leaders express optimism about the potential for enhanced planning processes, especially in light of returning load growth driven by data centers and other demands. The shift to longer planning horizons under Order 1920 is seen as a positive step towards addressing future energy needs, though legal challenges remain regarding state involvement and cost allocation agreements.