Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins Shift Key Classic: How to Hook Up More Power Plants
Aug 27, 2025
Tyler Norris, a doctoral student at Duke's Nicholas Institute, and Claire Wayner, a senior associate at RMI, dive into the pressing issue of integrating renewable energy into the U.S. power grid. They address the daunting interconnection queue that delays new projects and explore innovative solutions like automation in processing. The duo also discusses the transition from coal to gas, lessons learned from Texas's energy strategies, and the urgent need for reform to streamline interconnection processes and accelerate clean energy deployment.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Interconnection Is A Multi-Year Study Pipeline
- Interconnection requires a sequence of studies from the transmission provider to assess grid impacts and upgrades.
- Developers often must pay assigned upgrade costs and then build the work, which can take several additional years.
Queues Have Lengthened To Years
- National data show interconnection timelines have lengthened substantially in recent years.
- Average time from request to agreement is about three years, and agreement to in-service can take three to five more years.
Old Rules Don’t Fit Renewables Scale
- Many transmission providers still use a first-come, first-serve interconnection methodology designed for large fossil plants.
- That sequential approach breaks when thousands of smaller renewable projects enter the queue and cause repeated restudies.