Three utilities in the nation’s largest electricity market said they’re teaming up to propose several new high-voltage power lines crossing three states in the region.
The utilities are FirstEnergy and American Electric Power, both based in Ohio, as well as Virginia-based Dominion Energy. The companies said in a joint statement that the proposal to construct new lines in PJM Interconnection’s territory will help meet the challenges of rising demand and efforts to transition the power fleet in PJM away from fossil fuels.
The announcement on Monday didn’t include an estimate of the lines’ costs. The projects are in the early stages of development and if selected by PJM would require a multi-year process to select routes, permit and build, the utilities said.
The news comes several months after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Order 1920 that is aimed at encouraging development of such regional lines. The May order requires transmission owners to plan for transmission needs 20 years into the future to reduce congestion and accommodate new clean energy generation.