High Level
This week, transmission policy developments reflected both
progress and persistent barriers across regions. ISO New England forecasted
nearly half a billion dollars in new reliability investments, while the
Bonneville Power Administration energized a new line to support federal cleanup
efforts. Meanwhile, Michigan regulators approved long-awaited transmission
buildout despite rebuking the developer for ignoring public input. In
California, new analysis revealed how years of utility-driven delay have undermined
grid reliability and clean energy goals. At the federal level, FERC
Commissioner Judy Chang warned that fragmented planning processes could erode
competitive markets. Together, these developments signal a dual imperative:
build more transmission, and build it better.
Full View
BPA energizes new Hanford transmission line to support
radioactive waste cleanup
• What happened: The
Bonneville Power Administration completed and energized an 18-mile,
230-kilovolt high-voltage transmission line at the Hanford Site, replacing a
decades-old system to support long-term waste treatment operations.
• Who did it: The
project was led by BPA in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy Office
of Environmental Management and supported by Hanford Mission Integration
Solutions (HMIS).
• Why they did it:
To ensure reliable power delivery to critical facilities, including the Waste
Treatment and Immobilization Plant, which is preparing to vitrify radioactive
tank waste for permanent disposal.
• Stakeholder views:
Vanessa Turner of the DOE Hanford Field Office called the project "a
strong example of the One Hanford team in action." HMIS President Amy
Basche said the new line ensures "the infrastructure is ready to meet the
demands of the work underway now, and decades into the future."
• What happens next:
HMIS will operate the circuit serving Hanford operations, while BPA will
utilize the second circuit to reinforce regional grid stability. The new system
is expected to enhance resilience for ongoing cleanup milestones.
U.S.
Department of Energy, "New Transmission Line Powers Progress at
Hanford," July 8, 2025
Michigan approves new transmission lines amid criticism
of METC’s land acquisition and public engagement practices
• What happened: The
Michigan Public Service Commission approved two 345-kilovolt transmission line
projects proposed by Michigan Electric Transmission Company, despite intense
criticism over the utility’s dealings with landowners and local communities.
• Who did it: METC,
a subsidiary of ITC Holdings, secured regulatory approval for lines stretching
from Branch to Calhoun counties and from Eaton to Gratiot counties. The MPSC
voted unanimously to approve both projects.
• Why they did it:
The commission found that both lines are necessary to support system
reliability and accommodate future renewable energy development. However,
members also acknowledged that METC’s approach to land acquisition and
stakeholder outreach fell short of public interest standards.
• Stakeholder views:
– Commissioner Katherine Peretick said, "It would be generous to call
METC’s public engagement lackluster," citing refusal to answer questions
and the failure to address obvious routing flaws.
– Commissioner Dan Scripps added, "Even as I’m pleased to see these
critical projects move forward, I would implore the company to do a much better
job of public engagement in future applications."
– Attorney Stephon Bagne, representing affected landowners, said METC’s
easement offers were "exceptionally slanted in their favor" and
warned that option agreements could expose farms to uncompensated construction
uses and route flexibility.
– METC acknowledged the criticism, stating it "recognizes that meaningful
community involvement is essential" and pledged to improve outreach.
• What happens next:
METC must accept landowner modification requests, provide contact information
to adjacent landowners, and submit monthly filings on route adjustments and
landowner concerns. The MPSC also launched a rulemaking process to strengthen
Act 30 filing guidelines, including public notification standards and criteria
for evaluating alternate routes.
Michigan
Advance, "Attorney: Michigan farmers in proposed transmission line path
are being offered bad deals," July 9, 2025
Michigan
Advance, "Regulators approve transmission line project, but rip into
company for lack of public engagement," July 10, 2025
FERC’s Chang warns that poor planning alignment could
destabilize transmission markets
• What happened:
Commissioner Judy Chang raised concerns that the growing disconnect between
interconnection and transmission planning threatens to undermine competitive
electricity markets and delay infrastructure deployment.
• Who did it: Judy
Chang, speaking on July 10 at a WIRES event in Woodstock, Vermont.
• Why they did it:
Chang addressed the compounding impact of queue congestion, cost disputes,
state-level withdrawal threats, and underinvestment in advanced transmission
technologies.
• Stakeholder views:
Chang said, "We should plan, design, permit — all faster," adding
that she supports permitting reform across all infrastructure. On incentives,
she urged utilities to avoid overreach: "Build what you need to build and
what you see as best value for the consumers in the longer term, but don’t be
greedy." She emphasized that poorly explained costs could cause backlash,
noting, "If we go overboard and consumers start complaining, this whole
thing is going to backfire."
• What happens next:
Chang called for broader adoption of grid-enhancing technologies and more
transparent cost communication. She reaffirmed FERC’s independence and
acknowledged the resource strain on agency staff due to retirements and a
hiring freeze.
Utility
Dive, "Misaligned interconnection, transmission planning could hurt
competitive markets: FERC’s Chang," July 11, 2025
UCS report exposes severe delays in California
transmission development
• What happened: The
Union of Concerned Scientists published a detailed analysis revealing that
major transmission projects in California are experiencing delays averaging
more than six years, which threatens the state’s clean energy and reliability
targets.
• Who did it: The
report evaluated 21 significant projects approved by the California Independent
System Operator between 2010 and 2020.
• Why they did it:
To assess systemic causes of development delays, such as utility
reprioritization, permitting bottlenecks, and limited competitive project
solicitation. UCS aims to support reforms that accelerate infrastructure needed
to meet California’s 2045 clean energy mandate.
• Stakeholder views:
UCS found that 61 percent of PG&E’s CAISO-approved projects are delayed and
that 73 percent of those cited prioritization as the cause. The report
criticized PG&E’s redirection of resources to wildfire safety and supply
chain pressures without quantifiable mechanisms for project triage. It also
flagged record utility profits as inconsistent with delayed buildout.
• What happens next:
UCS recommended expanding competitive bidding for more projects, increasing
permitting agency staffing, and enabling public financing options. The group
also urged CAISO and regulators to prioritize projects that unlock clean energy
and reduce reliance on fossil plants.
Union
of Concerned Scientists, "Understanding California’s Transmission
Development Delays and Paths to Reform," July 2025
ISO New England forecasts 447 million dollars in
transmission investment through 2028
• What happened: ISO
New England released its Summer 2025 Regional System Plan Project List, showing
447 million dollars in anticipated transmission reliability investments and six
active construction projects across the region.
• Who did it: ISO
New England, the regional grid operator responsible for planning and operating
the bulk power system across six states.
• Why they did it:
To ensure grid reliability, mitigate congestion, and support clean energy
integration through targeted upgrades. The planning process adapts to evolving
demand forecasts, resource retirements, and new generation additions.
• Stakeholder views:
While the ISO’s update included no new in-service projects this quarter, it
highlighted 20 active initiatives, mostly in Massachusetts and Maine, with
regional cost allocation guided by a transparent Planning Advisory Committee
process. ISO-NE stated that improved transmission allows more competition among
generators and helps retire older plants, enabling cheaper and cleaner power
sources.
• What happens next:
The Planning Advisory Committee will meet again on July 23 to review system
needs. Projects under construction will continue through 2028, with funding
eligibility tied to regional reliability benefits.
ISO
New England, "Summer 2025 update on regional transmission investment now
available," July 7, 2025
What’s the So What?
This week’s developments underscore the convergence of two
persistent truths in U.S. transmission policy. First, there is no credible
pathway to a reliable or decarbonized grid without significant new transmission
investment. Second, the process of getting that infrastructure built remains
deeply fractured.
FERC Commissioner Chang’s remarks captured the federal
perspective: permitting reform and strategic use of grid-enhancing technologies
are essential, but without better alignment between interconnection and
transmission planning, even the most advanced reforms will underdeliver. In New
England, ISO-NE’s project updates reflect slow but steady movement. The agency
continues to operate with a level of transparency and regional cost-sharing
that many other grid operators are only beginning to match.
By contrast, California’s delays highlight the risks of
utility control without performance accountability. The Union of Concerned
Scientists has made the case that investor-owned utilities are underdelivering
on key projects even as ratepayers fund increasing shareholder returns.
Competitive solicitation, stronger regulatory oversight, and public financing
tools are no longer optional if California is to meet its climate and
reliability targets.
The Michigan case shows a different kind of gap, one between
the legal requirements for stakeholder engagement and the expectations of a
democratic infrastructure process. While the MPSC ultimately approved the METC
lines, commissioners made clear that future filings under Act 30 must improve
in both transparency and community responsiveness. As with generation siting,
trust must be built before permits are granted.
The clear throughline is this: transmission is not only a
technical challenge. It is also a governance challenge. Whether the issue is
project delays, underperformance, cost allocation, or landowner consent,
credibility matters. If utilities and regulators cannot demonstrate procedural
integrity and consumer value, even urgently needed projects will face mounting
resistance. That risk cannot be mitigated by engineering alone.
Bibliography
U.S. Department of Energy. “New Transmission Line Powers
Progress at Hanford.” July 8, 2025. https://www.energy.gov/em/articles/new-transmission-line-powers-progress-hanford
Michigan Advance. “Attorney: Michigan farmers in proposed transmission line
path are being offered bad deals.” July 9, 2025. https://michiganadvance.com/2025/07/09/attorney-michigan-farmers-in-proposed-transmission-line-path-are-being-offered-bad-deals/
Michigan Advance. “Regulators approve transmission line project, but rip into
company for lack of public engagement.” July 10, 2025. https://michiganadvance.com/2025/07/10/regulators-approve-transmission-line-project-but-rip-into-company-for-lack-of-public-engagement/
Utility Dive. “Misaligned interconnection, transmission planning could hurt
competitive markets: FERC’s Chang.” July 11, 2025. https://www.utilitydive.com/news/interconnection-transmission-planning-wires-ferc-chang/752775
Union of Concerned Scientists. “Understanding California’s Transmission
Development Delays and Paths to Reform.” July 2025. https://www.ucs.org/resources/understanding-californias-transmission-development-delays-and-paths-reform
ISO New England. “Summer 2025 update on regional transmission investment now
available.” July 7, 2025. https://isonewswire.com/2025/07/07/summer-2025-update-on-regional-transmission-investment-now-available-6-projects-under-construction-in-new-england/