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The North Plains Connector (NPC) is a proposed 420-mile, 525 kilovolt high-voltage direct current transmission line designed to connect the western and eastern electricity grids between eastern Montana and central North Dakota. Developed by North Plains Connector LLC (a subsidiary of Grid United), the project aims to add 3,000 megawatts of bi-directional transfer capacity to improve reliability and economic benefits across the US. The project is distinguished by a "landowner-first" engagement strategy, avoiding eminent domain and modifying its route by adding 50 miles to accommodate local preferences, thereby reducing community opposition.

The SOO Green HVDC Link is a 350-mile underground electricity transmission line connecting wind energy in MISO jurisdiction states to the PJM market, running from Mason City, Iowa to Yorkville, Illinois. The project is the first of its kind in the United States and is designed to be the longest underground HVDC line in the country, utilizing existing railroad rights of way to minimize community opposition and siting challenges.

This report analyzes the potential for Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs) to accelerate and reduce the cost of interconnecting new generation and storage projects within the PJM Interconnection, addressing bottlenecks caused by an aging grid and rising electricity demand.

This RMI briefing outlines how US Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) can use grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) to resolve transmission bottlenecks that are delaying the interconnection of renewable energy. It identifies regulatory 'gold plating' and 'capex bias' as primary barriers and proposes four strategies—knowledge building, planning mandates, financial incentive reforms, and FERC engagement—to accelerate the deployment of these cost-effective solutions.

This policy brief by RMI argues that the Build Back Better Act could be made more effective by allowing regulated utilities to opt out of 'tax normalization' requirements for stand-alone battery storage and transmission projects eligible for the Investment Tax Credit (ITC). While the bill introduces positive changes such as direct pay and the option for solar developers to use the Production Tax Credit (PTC), the author contends that current normalization rules force utilities to retain some ITC benefits for shareholders rather than passing them to customers, thereby increasing costs and disincentivizing the deployment of critical grid infrastructure.

This research paper examines how the rules and policies of wholesale electricity markets, specifically within Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) and Independent System Operator (ISO) territories, can act as barriers to the clean energy and decarbonization goals of local governments in the United States.