Earlier this summer, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) introduced a groundbreaking order—Order No. 2023—aimed at reforming the generator interconnection process in response to the evolving landscape of energy resources, market dynamics, and emerging technologies across the nation.

Industry reaction to the substance of the new rules has been mixed, but it is generally acknowledged that FERC’s reforms were a necessary first step toward relieving the system of its interconnection backlog. According to FERC, more than 2,000 GW of resources were waiting in interconnection queues at the end of 2022.

Husch Blackwell’s Linda Walsh, Frederick Jauss, Sylvia Bartell, and Michael Blackwell have prepared an insightful summary and analysis of Order No. 2023, including FERC’s use of penalties and its mandated use of cluster study methodology.

Our team will continue to follow developments impacting the interconnection process.