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Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Two new rules were approved Monday's move is expected to make it easier to expand construction of large power lines and bring more renewable energy to American homes and businesses.
One rule will require companies that produce and transmit electricity to weigh factors such as supply and demand over at least 20 years; The other deals with allowing critical projects in areas that lack sufficient transportation capacity.
Longer-range plans will need to consider the impact of extreme weather linked to climate change along with the cost of projects, with the goal of making the U.S. power grid more resilient to more frequent climate-fueled extreme weather events.
The rule, which requires long-range planning, is “the single largest action the federal government has taken to bolster transmission,” says Rob Gramlich, president of energy consulting firm Grid Strategies. The Wall Street Journal.
FERC's only Republican commissioner voted against the long-range planning rule, saying it was unfair to consumers and exceeded government authority.
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