PJM made its final presentation of recommended transmission projects to reinforce the reliability of the electric grid during the Jan. 7 meeting of the Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee. The proposals now move to the Board of Managers for consideration.
Sami Abdulsalam, Director – Transmission Planning, shared an overview (PDF) of the major reliability needs targeted in Window 1 of the 2024 Regional Transmission Expansion Plan (RTEP), in addition to details of the projects being considered to meet them.
Since the window for submissions closed Sept. 17, 2024, the projects have been extensively discussed with members and ratepayers attending the Oct. 8, Nov. 6, Nov. 19 (PDF) and Dec. 3 meetings of the Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee (TEAC). The TEAC is the main public forum for stakeholders and PJM staff to exchange ideas, discuss study assumptions and review results.
Planning for the future transmission needs of the electric system is an integral part of PJM’s role. When needs are identified to maintain reliability of the grid, PJM opens competitive planning “windows” so that transmission owners and other developers can submit their proposed solutions.
The 2024 RTEP Window 1 addresses accelerated load growth in various areas of the PJM footprint, changes in the mix of generation resources and the resulting shifts to regional power flows. The forecasted load growth is driven in part by data center load additions and the electrification of vehicles and building heating systems.
The collection of solutions is expected to require an investment of between $5.9 billion and $6.3 billion. The projects being considered accommodate the needs of today and the forecasted needs of the future grid, Abdulsalam said, noting that the selected projects can also handle expected future growth. They were chosen because they are the more efficient or cost-effective solutions to the challenges facing the grid operator, as informed by load growth and the changing resource mix.
The projects resolve critical west-east regional transfer reinforcement needs by introducing robust 765 kV developments connecting the AEP system in the western portion of the PJM footprint with the rest of the network in the central and southern PJM regions. The proposals selected also include a number of regional projects that are driven by more local needs.
The selected regional transfer reinforcement projects were proposed through a collaborative planning initiative among transmission owners Dominion, FirstEnergy and Transource. PJM further optimized and staged the projects to allow for an orderly development of assets as the electricity demand materializes, while advancing longer-lead transmission development components.
The 2024 RTEP Window 1 also identifies a number of other regional proposals driven by more local needs throughout the PJM footprint.
Pending approval by the PJM Board, project proponents will initiate more detailed routing, siting and consultation activities to optimize the proposed transmission line routes as part of the established state approval regulatory process. PJM does not choose the exact route, seek siting approvals or develop the projects; that is up to the individual project developers.
In response to the 2024 RTEP Window 1 reliability needs identified by PJM, 94 proposals were submitted by 16 entities. Comments on the projects can be sent to PJM Customer Service. Comments will be forwarded to the Planning Department and also compiled for Board consideration.