North America News

Latest news and developments from North America region

• FERC proposal seeks to boost existing transmission capacity in US

  November 23, 2020
  On November 19, 2020, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) voted to approve a draft notice of proposed rulemaking to make the existing power lines more efficient.

• GRID Alternatives installs vanadium flow battery in Southern California

  November 20, 2020
  GRID Alternatives—a non-profit organisation (NGO) based in Oakland—recently installed a vanadium flow battery (VFB) at a fire station run by Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians in Southern California.

• Eversource puts Greater Hartford Central Connecticut Reliability Project into service

  November 19, 2020
  Eversource Energy has recently put the USD61 million Greater Hartford Central Connecticut Reliability Project into service in Connecticut.

• FERC approves PJM reserve market overhaul [free access]

  November 18, 2020
  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently approved changes to the methodology on how PJM Interconnection (PJM) could calculate its energy and ancillary services offset.

• New Jersey sets up regional planning process for offshore wind transmission

  November 17, 2020
  The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and regional electricity grid operator PJM Interconnection have announced the commencement of a State Agreement Approach (SAA) solicitation for offshore wind transmission solutions.

• Upgrade work to commence for Middle Township to Wildwoods Reliability Project in US

  November 12, 2020
  Delaware-based Atlantic City Electric is working on its Middle Township to Wildwood Reliability Project.

• Work on Greenwich substation and line project nears completion in US

  November 10, 2020
  Work on the Greenwich substation and line project in Greenwich, Connecticut is nearing completion, by the developer – Eversource Energy.

• Eos to provide battery solutions for energy storage projects in US [free access]

  November 10, 2020
  New Jersey-based Eos Energy Storage LLC—an energy equipment and solution provider—signed an agreement with Hecate Energy—a developer, owner and operator of renewable energy (RE) projects and storage solutions in North America, to supply battery solutions to over 1 GWh of energy storage projects, for an estimated value of about USD250 million.

• Citizens Energy, IID announce power line upgrade in California

  November 9, 2020
  Citizens Energy Corporation, a non-profit energy company involved in constructing power generation and transmission systems in the US, in partnership with the state agency Imperial Irrigation District (IID) announced a USD40 million power line upgrade in California to help bring savings for California ratepayers.

• US agency issues environmental permit for NECEC project [free access]

  November 6, 2020
  The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)—an engineer formation of the US Army involved in the management of military construction and civil works—has issued a federal environmental permit for the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line project.

• Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia partner for offshore wind development

  November 5, 2020
  Three US states—Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia—have partnered to advance the development of offshore wind projects in the region, and promote the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic US as a hub for offshore wind energy.

• Canadian Hydro One seeks online feedback on power project

  November 5, 2020
  Canadian Hydro One Inc., Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution company, has commenced online community engagement sessions to provide updates and gather their feedback on its planned 230 kV Chatham–Lakeshore transmission line project.

• Transource Missouri awarded SPP’s second competitive transmission project

  November 3, 2020
  The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has selected Transource Missouri—a subsidiary of Transource Energy (jointly owned by American Electric Power (AEP) and Evergy Inc.)—for developing its second competitive transmission project under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Order 1000.

• FirstEnergy forms new transmission company for serving Allegheny Power zone

  November 3, 2020
  FirstEnergy has reportedly formed a new transmission company—Keystone Appalachian Transmission Company—to serve parts of PJM Interconnection’s (PJM) Allegheny county (in Pennsylvania) power systems zone.

• Canadian Hydro-Québec to build new 735 kV Micaoua–Saguenay transmission line

  October 29, 2020
  Canadian Hydro-Québec is planning to build a 262-km, 735 kV Micoua–Saguenay transmission line, between the Micoua substation in the Côte-Nord region and the Saguenay substation in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region in Quebec, Canada.

• Stakeholders push FERC to change offshore wind integration rules

  October 28, 2020
  In a technical conference regarding offshore wind integration in the network of regional transmission operators/independent system operators (RTOs/ISOs), convened on October 27, 2020, the latter and wind developers called for changes to be made to the transmission rules governing offshore wind integration.

• Vineyard Wind sign transmission agreement with ISO-NE

  October 28, 2020
  Vineyard Wind—a 50-50 partnership between Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Avangrid Renewables (a subsidiary of Avangrid Inc.)—has secured a transmission agreement with the Independent System Operator-New England (ISO-NE) to deliver power to the system operator’s grid when the Vineyard Wind 1 project comes online.

• TVA seeks comments on proposed transmission project

  October 27, 2020
  The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is seeking public input on the proposed transmission upgrades to provide power for the growing load demand in the Knox and Loudon counties in Tennessee.

• Arizona Siting Committee schedules hearing for 500 kV line

  October 26, 2020
  The Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee has scheduled public hearings from November 16-19, 2020 on the application of Hashknife Energy Center LLC—a wholly-owned subsidiary of Invenergy LLC, for Certificates of Environmental Compatibility (CECs) to authorise the Hashknife Energy Center Gen-Tie project.

• NYPSC approves NYPA projects, criteria for priority transmission projects

  October 23, 2020
  The New York Public Service Commission (NYPSC) has designated the New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) USD1 billion Northern New York (NNY) transmission line as a high priority project for meeting the state’s renewable energy (RE) goals; while also adopting criteria for identifying other such ‘priority transmission projects (PTPs)’.