Critics say that PJM, which is responsible for coordinating the flow of electricity in 13 states and the District of Columbia, should have been prepared for the retirement of the coal-fired Brandon Shores Power Plant outside of Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
PJM, the nation’s biggest grid operator, is changing how it plans transmission upgrades needed to ensure reliable service for the 65 million people who live in its footprint.
The effort comes after plenty of criticism of how the regional transmission organization, responsible for coordinating the flow of electricity in all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia, has traditionally conducted planning. Clean energy advocates and some state regulators are pushing for a more holistic, forward-looking approach that evaluates options besides traditional transmission lines and better incorporates the policy goals of PJM states, particularly those, like Illinois, Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, Virginia and New Jersey, that have set aggressive decarbonization targets.