On July 28, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Order No. 2023, which pertains to the interconnection procedures for both large (20MW and above) and small generating facilities (under 20MW). This was documented in an indicative summary by Troutman Pepper.
As outlined by FERC in the Final Rule, the implemented reforms aim to address the backlog in the interconnection queue, enhance certainty in the interconnection process, and deter unjust discrimination for new technologies.
Order No. 2023 is a reflection of regulatory changes intended to balance out the growth in renewable energy technologies, such as solar and wind, and traditional power generation methods. This is due to the increasing complexities surrounding interconnecting diverse technology types to the power grid.
While specific changes to the existing interconnection procedures were not explicitly detailed, this update suggests a notable focus by the commission on ensuring fairness and efficiency in the grant of interconnection for both established and emerging generation technologies.
Larger context and explicit procedure modifications in response to the evolving energy landscape would be interesting to monitor, especially for legal professionals in the energy sphere.