A challenge to the Midwest grid operator’s $22 billion plan for a high-voltage power backbone in the region is drawing blowback from a wide array of interests on both sides of the political aisle.
Among the arguments for dismissing the complaint by utility commissions in five GOP states is a concern on no one’s radar years ago when the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) began plotting a multiyear Long Range Transmission Plan — powering AI data centers.
Those urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to deny the complaint seeking to block the transmission plan include governors and regulators from a half dozen states and some large electricity users, including the trade association for the data center industry, as well as utilities and their lobby, the Edison Electric Institute.
“Developing long-term infrastructure is time and resource intensive,” EEI said in a filing last week. “Time is of the essence to … provide reliable affordable energy to customers and meet our nation’s economic and national security priorities, including achieving dominance in artificial intelligence.”
