Eastern Interconnection Grid Planning completes first phase of study

RENSSELAER, USA: The Eastern Interconnection Planning Collaborative (EIPC) has completed the first phase of study of “resource expansion futures” defined by stakeholders as part of an electric system transmission planning effort funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE).

“The EIPC has reached a major milestone in completing the macroeconomic analyses of stakeholder-defined resource futures in Phase 1 of the project and in finalizing a comprehensive report on this work. The stakeholders also have defined three scenarios to be studied from a transmission perspective in Phase 2 of the project,” said Stephen G. Whitley, president and CEO of the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) and chair of the EIPC Executive Committee.

“We are encouraged by the collaborative approach taken by the stakeholders and state representatives who form the Stakeholder Steering Committee charged with providing input and strategic guidance to the project.”

The three scenarios chosen by stakeholders for further study in Phase 2 are described in the report as:

“Business as Usual” representing a continuation of existing conditions including load growth, existing Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPSs), and currently proposed environmental regulations.

“National RPS: State and Regional Implementation” represents meeting 30 percent of the nation’s electricity requirements from renewable resources by 2030. This would be achieved by utilizing a regional implementation strategy.

“Combined Federal Climate and Energy Policy” represents a reduction of economy-wide carbon emissions by 50 percent from 2005 levels in 2030 and 80 percent in 2050, combined with meeting 30 percent of the nation’s electricity requirements from renewable resources by 2030 and significant deployment of energy efficiency measures, demand response, distributed generation, smart grid and other low-carbon technologies. This would be achieved by utilizing a nation-wide/eastern interconnection-wide implementation strategy.