Work to add higher-voltage capacity and 10,000 miles of new lines faces key issues in siting, cost allocation and regulatory tension, says transmission sector consultant Grid Strategies in Sept. 13 report.
States say Federal Energy Regulatory Commission did not consider New Jersey's claims that added capacity was not needed and would violate its climate change law.
Unanimous FERC vote July 27 on final rule will prioritize the most construction-ready, financially-viable projects, but its effective date was not announced.
Bechtel Energy is EPC contractor for the Rio Grande LNG project, with its $11.5B price agreement for the first three trains extended to June 15 and a final investment decision by developer Next Decade to be made by June 30.
North Plains Connector from South Dakota to Montana would enable shared power and more system reliability for large US grids, but transmission experts decry big gaps in "planning, permitting and paying."
UPDATE: Interim chair of key federal regulator of energy, power infrastructure is named Jan. 3, but agency still has a 2-2 partisan split that could hamper project decisions until new Senate hearings confirm a permanent leader.
Agency action sets stage for removal work to begin next year by Kiewit Infrastructure West, in effort to restore water quality and ailing salmon population.