Senator Chuck Schumer made a plea last week to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), urging commissioners to hasten rulemakings meant to streamline the construction of new transmission lines. As it appears more and more unlikely Congress will return to permitting reform this session, Democrats are turning to the regulatory process instead. However, the current 2-2 partisan split on the FERC is slowing down their progress. Moreover, the significant changes Democrats seek will inevitably have to go beyond mere regulations, necessitating the passage of new laws by Congress.
Democrats are slowing coming to terms with the reality that without new transmission lines, they cannot plug new renewable projects into the grid. At current rates, the execution of the “clean energy transition” they seek so desperately could take years. An excellent example of this is the New England Clean Power Link, a proposed transmission line designed to bring hydropower from Canada to New England. First proposed in 2014, it has yet to be completed due to bureaucratic hang ups and opposition from various interest groups. Across the country, renewable projects are being left stranded due to a lack of connecting infrastructure.
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