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The massive logjam of power projects awaiting a connection to the equally massive PJM grid has finally shown signs of cracking open. To the surprise of nobody, applications from energy storage projects lead by a long shot in terms of raw numbers, followed by natural gas, solar, and wind, with coal slotted far behind into the measly category of “other.” As for which projects actually get off the drawing boards, well, that depends on who or what is prepared for a fight…
The PJM Logjam Breaks Open
The US grid is divided up in to several regions managed by a cohort of grid operators. The regional system was formalized in the late 1990’s to streamline coordination between power generation resources in different parts of the country. Some grid operators, like PJM, periodically call for new capacity proposals to secure new power sources to meet future demand.
PJM is short for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland, the territory it initially covered at launch. Over the years PJM has grown beyond those three states to encompass all or part of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, an area with a population of 67 million.
