PJM Interconnection LLC is proposing a new process to alleviate a logjam of primarily renewable projects seeking to connect to the grid.
On Feb. 8, the Interconnection Process Reform Task Force will present its solution to the backlog of about 2,500 projects to the grid operator's planning committee.
"The influx chiefly is from renewable resources, which accounted for more than 95% of proposed megawatts as of the end of 2021," PJM spokesperson Jeffrey Shields said in a Feb. 2 email. "A lot more, but smaller, projects are coming in, and all of them need to be studied."
The grid operator for all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia, PJM hopes to alleviate the logjam within two years of an Oct. 1 effective date for its transition plan, with the application review for projects that have been paused set to begin in mid-2024.
PJM will look to address the earlier projects already in queue and develop a "fast lane" for projects with network upgrade impacts of less than $5 million. This will be applied to about 450 projects that can "proceed upon completion" of PJM's facilities study.
While focused initially on earlier queued projects, "PJM will expedite those later-queued projects," Shields said.
PJM began discussions with stakeholders in late 2020 on a solution and framework for improving the interconnection process and clearing the backlog, Shields said.
PJM formed the Interconnection Process Reform Task Force in April 2021. On Jan. 24, the task force presented an update on its proposal for the new interconnection process.
This transition proposal divides the projects being studied by PJM into three tranches, according to Shields. The first tranche involves about 1,250 projects that PJM has received with the study process in progress, and the second tranche involves another 1,250 projects the grid operator has received with the study process paused.
PJM suggests a blackout period of about eight months before accepting applications for a third tranche of new projects expected in the queue on and after March 31.
"PJM's transition proposal is necessary to allow for better prioritization and streamlining of our processes," Shields said. "It actually will end up speeding up the process for all projects — including those impacted by the pause."
If the planning committee approves the proposal, it must still clear two more committees: markets and reliability, and members. If fully approved, PJM plans to file its interconnection recommendations with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in May.
