Yes, there are specific regions in the United States with notably longer interconnection queues for renewable energy projects, reflecting challenges in grid integration and permitting timelines.
Regions with Long Interconnection Queues for Renewables
- California (CAISO): California has the largest interconnection queue, with nearly 540 GW of capacity actively undergoing impact studies. The region is a leader in hybrid configurations (solar plus battery storage). The average wait time from queue entry to proposed commercial operation exceeds four years. Reforms in CAISO have paused or slowed new interconnection requests recently to address backlog.
- Texas (ERCOT): Texas ranks second with a queue of about 326 GW capacity. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas shows similarly extended average waiting times of at least four years, influenced by a large volume of solar and hybrid projects.
- Southwest Power Pool (SPP): The average duration from queue entry to proposed online date is the longest here, approximately 70 months (nearly six years), indicating significant delays in interconnection processing.
- New York ISO and ISO New England: These regions lead in stand-alone wind capacity and have queue durations averaging four years or more. New York ISO is among the regions with the longest wait times and significant renewable integration underway.
- Non-ISO West and Non-ISO Southeast: The non-ISO West and Southeast regions have average wait times around four years or more. The Southeast also has a somewhat lower proportion of renewables in the queue (about 62.4%) compared to other regions, which have at least 90% renewables in the queue capacity.
Broader Patterns
- Overall, renewables represent at least 92% of interconnection queue capacity in eight of nine major regions analyzed, emphasizing the renewables-driven nature of current queue backlogs.
- Hybrid projects involving solar and battery storage lead the queue categories, surpassing 800 GW collectively.
- The average waiting times to proceed with projects once entered into queues ranges typically from around three years (PJM) to nearly six years (SPP), reflecting regional differences in processing speed and grid readiness.
- Regulatory reforms (e.g., FERC reforms) and grid operators in some areas have paused or slowed new requests to prioritize clearing backlogs, particularly in CAISO, PJM, and MISO.
Summary Table of Key Regions with Long Queues
| Region | Approx. Queue Capacity (GW) | Average Wait Time | Renewables % in Queue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California ISO (CAISO) | ~540 | >4 years | >90% | Largest queue, hybrid projects dominant |
| Texas (ERCOT) | ~326 | >4 years | >90% | Large solar + storage hybrid capacity |
| Southwest Power Pool (SPP) | Not specified | ~70 months (6 years) | >90% | Longest average wait time |
| New York ISO | Not specified | >4 years | >90% (mainly wind) | Leading in stand-alone wind |
| Non-ISO West | Not specified | >4 years | >90% | High renewables share |
| Non-ISO Southeast | Not specified | >4 years | ∼62% | Lower renewables share, slower queue |
In conclusion, California, Texas, Southwest Power Pool, and New York ISO stand out as regions with the longest queues for renewable energy project interconnections, driven by very large volumes of pending projects, extensive impact study phases, and a need for regulatory reforms to alleviate congestion in the process.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/are-there-specific-regions-with-longer-interconnection-queues-for-renewable-energy-projects/
