A Fast-Path to Affordability: Understanding the Benefits of Energy-Only Resources in PJM

The briefing examines the potential of Energy Resource Interconnection Service (ERIS) to address load growth and high energy prices in the PJM region. Based on analysis by Aurora Energy Research, the document asserts that wind and solar resources electing ERIS are financially viable and could save ratepayers nearly $11 billion over a decade if 10 GW are deployed by 2028. It calls for PJM to decouple ERIS studies from Network Resource Interconnection Service (NRIS) tracks and minimize network upgrade requirements to accelerate deployment.

• Deploying 10 GW of energy-only resources (5 GW each of wind and solar) in PJM by 2028 could result in savings of nearly $11 billion for ratepayers over the following ten years.
• Analysis of four PJM load zones—American Electric Power, Commonwealth Edison, Dominion, and Pennsylvania Power and Light—shows that ERIS resources are financially viable. In the Central Scenario, solar resources showed internal rates of return (IRR) of 9%–10.2% and wind resources showed 9.2%–13.6%, exceeding the 9% hurdle rate benchmark.
• ERIS resources, particularly onshore wind, can contribute to grid reliability during peak winter load days. Over the last decade, PJM's onshore wind resources had an average capacity factor of 39% on these days, and during Winter Storm Elliott, wind fleet availability rates were higher than those of coal and gas resources.
• Current ERIS uptake in PJM is low because study procedures do not sufficiently differentiate ERIS projects from those seeking capacity status or NRIS, meaning developers do not see reduced timelines or costs for forgoing capacity revenues.

APA

RMI (2026). A Fast-Path to Affordability: Understanding the Benefits of Energy-Only Resources in PJM. https://rmi.org/resources/a-fast-path-to-affordability-understanding-the-benefits-of-energy-only-resources-in-pjm/

Chicago

RMI. A Fast-Path to Affordability: Understanding the Benefits of Energy-Only Resources in PJM. 2026. https://rmi.org/resources/a-fast-path-to-affordability-understanding-the-benefits-of-energy-only-resources-in-pjm/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=A Fast-Path to Affordability: Understanding the Benefits of Energy-Only Resources in PJM |date=11 May 2026 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/a-fast-path-to-affordability-understanding-the-benefits-of-energy-only-resources-in-pjm/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2026fastpath, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{A Fast-Path to Affordability: Understanding the Benefits of Energy-Only Resources in PJM}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/a-fast-path-to-affordability-understanding-the-benefits-of-energy-only-resources-in-pjm/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }