PJM picks 51 projects for grid
Selected under the Reliability Resource Initiative, the projects will add 9.36 GW of capacity, with most expected online by 2030.
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USA: PJM Interconnection, a major US electricity grid operator, has selected 51 fast-track power projects through its Reliability Resource Initiative (RRI) to quickly boost energy capacity and enhance grid stability.
The initiative focuses on resources that are shovel-ready and can be brought online swiftly. Combined, these projects are expected to deliver over 9.3 GW of Unforced Capacity (UCAP) to the grid.
The chosen projects include 39 upgrades to existing energy assets – spanning natural gas, nuclear, coal, and onshore wind – and 12 entirely new builds. Of the total capacity, 2.11 GW will come from uprates, while 7.25 GW will be added by new developments.
Around 90 % of the projects are projected to be in service by 2030, with the remainder anticipated by 2031. PJM selected the projects based on a scoring system that weighted UCAP, operational timelines, and regional generation needs. Originally targeting 50, PJM approved 51 projects due to a scoring tie.
This initiative builds on PJM’s recent reforms to streamline the interconnection process, shifting from a “first-come, first-served” model to a “first-ready, first-served” approach, approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in 2022.
Beyond RRI, PJM plans to process another 62 GW of capacity in 2025 and 2026. The organisation has already reduced its project backlog by 60 % through automation, increased staffing, and AI collaboration with Google and Tapestry.
A proposed FERC-backed reform package also aims to simplify capacity transfers for replacement resources when older facilities retire.
Source: Yahoo Finance
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