Four members of Congress are urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to adopt a “shared savings” incentive to encourage the use of grid-enhancing technologies, or GETs, to bolster new or existing transmission.
GETs — such as dynamic line ratings, advanced power flow controls and topology optimization — are “typically much cheaper” than traditional grid buildout options and can be deployed rapidly, Sens. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Angus King, I-Maine, and Reps. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., and Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., said in a Wednesday letter to FERC.
“GETs can enable transmission owners to bolster capacity by freeing up transmission congestion and making the most of existing lines,” they said.
In a study released last month, RMI found that installing GETs in five PJM Interconnection states would allow 6.6 GW of proposed clean energy resources to connect to the grid, saving consumers about $1 billion a year in reduced generation costs.