Continuing to disperse ARRA funds meant to develop a clean-energy future, the Department of Energy has granted $14 million to the Eastern Interconnection Planning Council (EIPC) to formally begin studying the potential transmission development for the entire region. Representing one of the five power-grid systems connecting all of North America, EIPC is a collaboration between public utility commissions, governors’ offices, energy offices and other key government representatives from 39 states. The goal of the study is to develop scenarios for a interconnection-wide transmission plan that will meet the U.S.’s long-term electric power needs.”Transmission studies are a ground-up, regional practice by nature, but we believe that taking a broader, interconnection-wide view will provide important insights as we update the electricity grid,”said NARUC President David Coen in a press release. EIPC now has a year to report back to the DOE with a detailed analysis of interconnection scenarios and potential production costs.
Source: National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC)