DC Circuit dismisses challenge to FERC’s renewable backlog fix

By Niina H. Farah | 01/23/2025 06:21 AM EST

The FERC order greenlit a plan from PJM Interconnection to fast track grid connection requests from energy projects worth $5 million or less.

In an aerial view, high voltage power lines run along the electrical power grid on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

In an aerial view, high voltage power lines run along the electrical power grid on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

An appeals court has dismissed a challenge to a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission order that streamlines the connection of new electricity sources to the dominant Eastern power grid.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found Tuesday that Hecate Energy lacked legal standing to challenge the order. The renewable energy developer had objected to FERC’s approval of PJM Interconnection’s 2022 plan to clear a backlog of interconnection requests.

PJM, which operates the regional electric grid in 13 states and the District of Columbia, had proposed expediting requests with assessed upgrades of $5 million or less. The new system replaced a first-come, first-served approach to processing interconnection requests.

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Hecate Energy argued that FERC had acted arbitrarily and capriciously in deciding that setting a $5 million cap was “unduly discriminatory.”

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