The resource starts with a framework that identifies three key components of effective actions: on-the-ground solutions, policy and market-enabling conditions, and state levers. There are multiple ways to walk through the framework — for example, states may start by first identifying the on-the-ground solutions they want to promote or by considering the state levers they have available. Regardless of where you start, it’s important to iterate through the different components, revisiting parts of the framework as needed to refine action design.

Component	Definition	Includes...
On-the-Ground Solutions	The set of technologies, infrastructure, and operations that advance a clean, reliable, and affordable electricity system	Efficiency + demand management using virtual power plants (VPPs), demand response, weatherization, etc. Utility-, community-, commercial-, and distributed-scale clean generation Improved grid management + infrastructure through VPPs, advanced transmission technologies, new line capacity, etc.
Policy & Market Enabling Conditions	Regulatory, economic, and institutional environments affecting the feasibility, effectiveness, and impact of solutions	Financing mechanisms Utility + market incentive structures Siting, permitting + interconnection Utility planning + procurement PUC authorities + mandate
State Levers	Mechanisms within state control that can advance the needed solutions either directly or by creating the appropriate policy and market enabling conditions	Incentives Requirements + standards Process reform Education & technical assistance Studies + planning

These components can be combined in many ways to produce pragmatic state actions, with the exact design left up to the state. Note that it is critical to identify the state lever that will be used, but levers can be used to target either or both of the other components.

Menu of Recommended Actions

In addition to the framework on defining an action, this resource includes a menu of example actions as a practical starting point for states to operationalize the framework. The menu provides RMI-studied solutions that advance state goals, including example actions.

We demonstrate the versatility of the framework by outlining multiple ways that an action could be achieved with different combinations of solutions, conditions, and levers. Each item in the menu corresponds to a particular solution (e.g., clean repowering) or category of solutions (e.g., clean utility-scale generation) and can be accomplished by several different actions using different state levers (e.g., regulatory requirements, financial incentives), sometimes focused on cultivating particular policy and market enabling conditions (e.g., utility mandates, financing mechanisms).

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To use the framework, states should start by assessing their current electricity system opportunities and challenges. This step is worth investing in and will benefit from data and analysis on current system performance, costs, use, and anticipated changes. Priority Climate Action Plans can serve as a starting point in many states. Electricity system opportunities and challenges may be related to load growth, reliability, resilience, pollution, energy costs, energy poverty, energy access, and more.

After this assessment, states may then find it most helpful to select what specific solutions or categories of solutions best address the electricity opportunities and challenges identified. States can then identify what conditions (if applicable) may help facilitate those solutions, followed by selecting among the levers available to them for the best tools or policies to facilitate the rollout of their selected solution(s).

By iteratively linking opportunities and challenges to solutions, conditions, and levers, state decision-makers can generate a pipeline of actions and specific associated implementation pathways tailored to their state’s unique circumstances.

The following three sections explain solutions, conditions, and levers in greater detail.

On-the-Ground Solutions

Once a state has assessed its electricity system opportunities and challenges, it can identify the electricity system category and associated on-the-ground solutions that best address those circumstances, such as expanding transmission capacity to allow more clean generation to interconnect.

This document identifies six key electricity categories for states and highlights a variety of RMI-studied solutions that can be implemented within each area. These on-the-ground solutions are the specific technologies, infrastructure, and operational improvements that achieve state goals. These include tools like energy storage systems, grid-enhancing technologies (GETs), and other advanced transmission technologies, and virtual power plants (VPPs) that address key challenges and opportunities in transitioning to a clean, reliable energy grid. Some solutions apply across multiple categories. The chart below provides a breakdown of an example, non-exhaustive set of solutions to advance a clean, reliable, and affordable electricity system. The six electricity categories used to structure suggested actions are highlighted in yellow, and solutions with dashed borders apply across more than one category.

Policy & Market Enabling Conditions

With one specific solution or a category of solutions selected, a state could then identify a policy or market-enabling condition to facilitate implementation of that area/solution, if applicable. Policy and market-enabling conditions shape the feasibility, effectiveness, and impact of different solutions by influencing factors such as permitting timelines, utility obligations, market incentives, and financing options.

By shaping policy and market conditions, states can affect the deployment of on-the-ground solutions. Often, using state levers to change policy or market conditions will promote deployment of a broad set of on-the-ground solutions. For example, changing utility and market incentive structures with cost control measures such as return on equity reform could promote deployment of additional low-cost clean energy while accelerating the retirement of expensive-to-operate fossil fuel plants. The table below provides a breakdown of five key policy and market-enabling conditions relevant to the electricity system, including illustrative examples for each category.

State Levers

With a set of on-the-ground solutions and/or policy and market-enabling conditions in mind, the state can select among its available levers to design a plan to pursue the desired outcome. Levers available to state legislators and regulators will vary state to state but include a range of different types of actions. Examples include requirements and standards that may mandate specific actions or targets — including “lead by example” actions to implement solutions in government facilities and operations, incentives that encourage voluntary actions, process reforms that streamline or improve existing systems, education and technical assistance initiatives to build awareness or capacity, and study and planning efforts that lay the groundwork for informed decision-making. The table below provides a breakdown of five lever categories.

How It All Fits Together: Guidance and Examples

By intentionally combining solutions, conditions, and levers to address electricity system challenges and opportunities, state decision-makers like legislators, regulators, and governors’ offices can generate a pipeline of actions and specific associated implementation pathways tailored to their state’s unique circumstances. This structured approach ensures that state plans, including energy, resilience, and climate plans, including Comprehensive Climate Action Plans, are both actionable and aligned with broader state goals.

While states can navigate the framework in multiple ways, it is often most useful to start by identifying the on-the-ground solutions or categories of solutions that best address the identified system challenges and opportunities, followed by what levers, and, in some cases, conditions can be leveraged to advance and implement those solution(s).

For example, a state might determine it has high renewable energy potential but insufficient transmission capacity to scale up its renewable energy production. From that knowledge, the state might identify updating transmission systems to support renewable energy generation as one of its electricity solution categories, and specifically, the need for new transmission lines. This reflects the updated grid infrastructure solution category. A sample action to support that transmission line solution could be targeting siting, permitting, and interconnection processes amenable to grid infrastructure buildouts (a policy and market enabling condition) by using process reforms (a lever).

This example combination of a solution category, condition, and lever is reflected in the framework chart below, with the selected components circled.

The framework supports the creation of numerous action designs by encouraging flexibility in how levers, conditions, and solutions are paired. In designing an action, it is critical to identify the state lever that will be used. Levers can be combined with one or both of the other components to develop an action, as follows:

• State Lever + Policy & Market Condition: Select a state lever to shape policy and market conditions that promote a broad set of on-the-ground solutions. These types of actions are referred to as “general category actions” in the menu below.
• State Lever + On-the-Ground Solution: Select a state lever to directly advance specific on-the-ground solutions. These types of actions are included in “solution-specific actions” in the menu below.
• State Lever + Policy & Market Condition + On-the-Ground Solution: Select a state lever to shape policy and market conditions with the aim of advancing specific on-the-ground solutions. These types of actions are also included in “solution-specific actions” in the menu below.

For instance, state legislators who want to promote affordability or pollution reduction may require (lever) that public utility commission (PUC) authorities use performance-based ratemaking (condition). This would encourage a wide range of clean energy supply solutions (solution category). Alternatively, states could specifically promote distributed energy resources (specific solution) by combining community solar programs with education initiatives (lever) to expand participation in underserved areas. This flexibility allows decision makers to craft creative, multifaceted strategies that address diverse issues, such as affordability and equity in addition to pollution reduction, all while leveraging their state’s specific strengths and opportunities.

Key Considerations

When selecting actions to include in their state plans, states should consider several factors to prioritize effective and achievable outcomes and to select the solutions, conditions, and levers that are best suited to their needs.

• Priority Benefits: Taking into account community and stakeholder priorities, states should assess the broader benefits of each action, including economic development, job creation, energy reliability, resilience, adaptation, pollution reduction, affordability, impact on low-income and disadvantaged communities, and energy access and equity. For example, promoting repowering could reduce pollution while maintaining reliability and creating opportunities for local workforce training programs and community reinvestment. Meanwhile, an action aimed at advancing weatherization might be prioritized in states with significant energy burden disparities.
• Priority Energy Challenges: States should align actions with their priority needs, whether supply, grid, or demand related.
• Lever Limitations: Policymakers must evaluate constraints, such as budget limitations, legal authority, and political feasibility. For instance, while financial incentives may be highly effective, states with budget constraints might focus on regulatory requirements or process reforms instead.
• Relative Costs: States should consider the cost-effectiveness and absolute cost of each action to maximize the impact of investment and how that cost is allocated.

The menu below offers a curated selection of pragmatic actions, informed by RMI’s work and organized according to the categories outlined in Exhibit 2, that states can include in their planning efforts to advance a clean, reliable, and affordable electricity system. Each item in the menu aligns with a category and/or a specific solution identified in Exhibit 2. For each category or specific solution, a state can identify which levers it wants to use and any policy and market conditions it wants to focus on to design an action.

This menu serves as both inspiration and a practical starting point, showcasing diverse approaches that address critical priorities such as pollution reduction, grid reliability, affordability, and equity. States can adapt these actions to fit their unique contexts, leveraging the framework to refine and expand upon the ideas presented and provide specific targets and implementation pathways, and timelines for each action.

Sample implementation pathways (in parentheses) based on example lever and condition combinations and links to relevant RMI resources are also provided for the included actions.

Category #1: System-Wide Efficiency and Demand Management

Efficiency in electricity generation, transmission, and end use is a key factor affecting the electricity system — the more efficient the system is, the easier it will be to achieve clean, affordable reliability. Advancing the efficiency of power generation and transmission while implementing the actions in the menu below will reduce the amount of new generation and transmission needed.

It is also critical to increase the efficiency of electricity end uses in buildings, transportation, and industry. While key to reducing electricity demand and therefore overall electricity-related pollution, end-use efficiency is likely better addressed by actions in each of these specific sectors.

In addition to promoting overall system efficiency, actions to affect demand can help to promote reliability and affordability, for example, by reducing peak demand. Solutions like demand response and virtual power plants (explained further below) are key tactics to beneficially shape demand.

Category #2: Increased Utility-Scale Clean Energy Supply

General Category Actions

Efforts to expand utility-scale clean energy generation and deployment across a variety of technologies and solutions.

Sample Actions:

• Study and provide input into PUC integrated resource planning (IRP) and procurement procedures to advocate for IRP processes that link planning outcomes to procurement decisions and that include all-source procurement as a routine practice. RMI’s past work on clean energy portfolios includes a guide on new procurement opportunities. (Process Reform + Utility Planning & Procurement).
• Create a grant or loan program funded by state or federal sources to support the initial capital costs of clean energy projects, including both generation and storage technologies. RMI has a guide to help states leverage federal programs for sectors including electricity. (Incentives + Financing Mechanisms).
• Introduce a tiered clean portfolio standard that increases the required percentage of clean generation over time, and establish penalties for utilities that fail to meet the standard, with collected funds used to support further clean energy development. (Requirements & Standards + Utility Planning & Procurement; Requirements & Standards + Market Incentive Structures).

Solution-Specific Actions

Support and Expand Energy Storage: Support the expansion of utility-scale batteries and other storage technologies to store excess renewable energy for use during high-demand periods. RMI’s past work on how battery storage can aid grid reliability, as well as its 2024 report, The Cleantech Revolution, demonstrating historic declines in battery prices, may be helpful for states to develop targeted rationales for battery storage deployment in their jurisdictions and to identify specific actions utilities and grid operations can take to support that deployment.

Sample Actions:

• Through legislation like a clean portfolio standard, set a state-wide energy storage target. (Requirements & Standards)
• Through legislation, update or expedite interconnection rules or processes for storage at existing renewables sites. (Process Reform + Siting, Permitting & Interconnection)
• Through studies of state grid reliability, recommend grid-scale battery storage technology additions that could aid the expansion of clean generation capacity. (Studies & Planning)

Support and Expand Utility-Scale Clean Generation: Facilitate the deployment of utility-scale clean energy generation technology, such as utility-scale solar or wind.

Sample Actions:

• Through legislation, create tax credits or grants to incentivize clean generation deployment. (Incentives + Financing Mechanisms)
• Through legislation or regulation, streamline processes for integration of clean generation into the grid. (Process Reform + Siting, Permitting & Interconnection)
• Through legislation or regulation, create renewable portfolio standards and/or clean energy standards that include a carve-out for renewable generation. RMI has conducted a variety of research on clean energy portfolios, including a guide for building clean energy portfolios. (Requirements & Standards + Market Incentive Structures)

Promote Clean Repowering: Support upgrades to existing fossil fuel plants to use cleaner technologies, reducing pollution while maintaining energy output. RMI has a variety of resources that can support states’ implementation pathway design for this action, including a list of plant-by-plant clean repowering opportunities, an explanation of some pathways to encourage clean repowering, and a breakdown of some of the cost-saving aspects of clean repowering.

Sample Actions:

• Facilitate the uptake of incentives, including leading implementation of any relevant federally funded grant programs that support clean repowering projects. (Incentives + Financing Mechanisms)
• As part of state energy office-led studies tied to utilities’ integrated resource planning, study the technical and economic opportunities for clean repowering. (Studies & Planning + Utility Planning & Procurement)
• Conduct outreach and education to facility owners about the clean repowering opportunity. (Education & Technical Assistance)

Phase Out Pollutant-Emitting Electricity Generation: Support the retirement of uneconomic, high-polluting plants, while transitioning to cleaner alternatives. As part of this, states could also develop transition plans for coal-dependent regions, like retraining programs for displaced workers. RMI’s 2021 report on excess coal generation capacity shows 27% of the then-existing coal fleet could be retired without needing replacement. Another 2021 RMI report may be useful for states to identify financial mechanisms that could be included in this action’s implementation pathway to facilitate a coal phase-down.

Sample Actions:

• Through legislation or regulation, require utility planning efforts and goals to align with state electricity decarbonization goals and net zero plans. (Requirements & Standards + PUC Authorities & Mandate)
• Facilitate awareness and uptake of incentives for additional clean generation, including repowering, that would aid in the phaseout of coal generation. (Incentives + Financing Mechanisms)

Category #3: Increased Community- and Commercial-Scale Clean Energy Supply

General Category Actions

Efforts to expand community-scale and commercial-scale clean energy generation and deployment across a variety of technologies and solutions.

Sample Actions:

• Develop an online portal that consolidates information on available grants, incentives, and technical assistance for community-scale projects. RMI’s State Online Clean Energy Incentive Toolkit can help guide states through creating online information hubs on clean energy supports. (Education & Technical Assistance)
• Create incentives in the form of a tax credit or other support incentivizing large electricity consumers to source clean electricity. (Incentives)

Solution-Specific Actions

Support and Expand Community-Level Clean Generation: Promote the development and adoption of clean energy projects, such as community solar, to increase local clean energy access and foster energy equity. RMI’s 2022 report outlines some of the benefits of community solar deployment, which states could use as they identify the core benefits for their jurisdictions from this action.

Sample Actions:

• Provide public, clear channels for communities to learn about available community-level generation support programs and infrastructure and conduct outreach to those groups. (Education & Technical Assistance)
• Clarify and streamline processes for deploying clean energy on brownfields to convert them into “brightfields,” as outlined by RMI’s Brightfields Accelerator. (Process Reform)

On-Site Clean Energy Pairing: Support efforts to co-locate clean generation and/or storage at or near the commercial sites where that energy will be consumed, like data centers. Aiding companies with existing grid decarbonization efforts, like the RMI-backed ZEROgrid roadmap initiative, could also support this action.

Sample Actions:

• Conduct outreach or educational efforts to help developers and site operators be aware of the opportunities and support available for on-site clean energy pairing. (Education & Technical Assistance)
• Through legislation, establish commercial product pollution standards that could be achieved through efforts like on-site clean energy pairing. (Requirements & Standards)
• Through legislation, establish permitting and interconnection procedures that allow for timely co-location of new clean generation capacity near the sites of existing generators to meet the needs of the new large-load customers. (Process Reform + Siting, Permitting & Interconnection)

Category #4: Increased Clean Distributed Energy Supply

General Category Actions

Efforts to expand distributed energy resources (DERs) — small-scale electricity supply and demand resources, like solar photovoltaics and battery storage, that can be interconnected to the energy grid — across a variety of technologies and solutions.

Sample Actions:

• Develop a performance-based incentive program that rewards homeowners based on the amount of energy stored and used. RMI’s toolkit on clean energy incentives available to households and individuals may serve as a resource for states developing such programs. (Incentives + Market Incentive Structures)
• Create a centralized online portal for homeowners to apply for permits, incentives, and interconnection agreements. (Education & Technical Assistance)

Solution-Specific Actions

Residential Energy Storage: Support the expansion of residential-scale batteries and other storage technologies to store excess renewable energy for use during high-demand periods.

Sample Actions:

• Conduct outreach and educational efforts to make consumers aware of incentives — state or federal — that are available to support uptake of residential-scale battery storage. (Education & Technical Assistance)
• Through legislation, establish new incentive programs to facilitate uptake of residential-scale battery storage. (Incentives + Financing Mechanisms)

Residential Renewable Energy Generation: Support the deployment of residential-scale renewable energy generation, like rooftop solar. RMI’s insights on how to streamline the solar permitting process and how local governments can support rooftop solar through community bulk-purchasing campaigns may be of use to state decision-makers as they design this action.

Sample Actions:

• Design administrative procedures that cut down on permitting processing time to facilitate expansion of residential renewable energy generation capacity. An example of this is Utah’s H.B. 340 Solar Power Amendments bill, which more easily allows for residents to utilize plug-in solar power systems. (Process Reform + Siting, Permitting & Interconnection)
• Lead community bulk-purchasing campaigns to help low- and moderate-income homeowners access solar power. (Education & Technical Assistance)

Leverage Virtual Power Plants (VPPs): Support the aggregation of residential-scale distributed energy resources including storage, which can be enrolled in VPPs. In addition to providing value for households that install these devices, VPPs can support the grid by helping to balance demand and supply and provide grid services like a traditional power plant. RMI has a variety of resources that may aid states in identifying VPP deployment opportunities, such as a 2023 report on VPP benefits, a 2024 policy brief on VPP policy principles, a 2024 report showing how VPPs support affordable, decarbonized power systems, and a 2024 VPP Partnership-led explainer on VPPs’ ties to grid reliability issues.

Sample Actions:

• Establish DER compensation mechanisms that incentivize uptake of DERs and align customer compensation with the services DERs provide, such as net energy metering and thoughtfully designed successors, ongoing performance payments for provision of grid services, and time-varying or dynamic tariffs. (Incentives + Market Incentive Structures)
• Through legislation, require utilities to develop programs rewarding distributed energy resource uptake, thereby creating incentives for VPPs. (Requirements & Standards + Financing Mechanisms)

Category #5: Improved Grid Management

General Category Actions

Efforts to improve the management of the transmission and distribution of electricity from generators to end users.

Sample Actions:

• Develop legislative or regulatory guidelines that require utilities to consider VPPs and GETs in their integrated resource planning processes. (Requirements & Standards + Utility Planning & Procurement)
• Create financial incentives for utilities to achieve specific demand response targets and to implement upgraded grid management efforts, such as peak load reduction. RMI’s analysis of how buildings can engage with demand flexibility, along with its database of performance incentive mechanisms — including for demand flexibility — may be useful resources for states pursuing this action. (Incentives + Market Incentive Structures)

Solution-Specific Actions

Leverage Virtual Power Plants: Support the aggregation of distributed energy resources to provide utility-scale services, enhancing grid reliability and reducing costs. As identified above, resources and initiatives like the VPP Partnership may aid in states’ design of this action.

Sample Actions:

• Support utility planning efforts to enable VPP participation in wholesale and retail markets by studying ratepayer effects or other benefits that may come from increased VPP use. (Studies & Planning + Utility Planning & Procurement)
• Consider VPPs in state planning efforts concerning grid reliability and recommend their use where beneficial. (Studies & Planning)
• Through legislation, require utilities to integrate VPPs into distribution and generation planning. (Studies & Planning)

Facilitate Economic Dispatch: Support optimized power plant generation, ensuring the least-cost generation mix is used while meeting demand. RMI’s Economic Dispatch Dashboard may aid states in identifying when uneconomic dispatch practices are occurring and quantifying the cost impact of such practices.

Sample Actions:

• Require utilities to set standards for and engage in economic dispatch. (Requirements & Standards + PUC Authorities and Mandates)
• Reform laws that allow for utilities to pass through 100% of fuel costs and replace them with policy that promotes fuel cost risk sharing, transparency, and scrutiny. (Requirements & Standards + Market Incentive Structures)
• Utilize tools like the Economic Dispatch Dashboard to study when and where uneconomic dispatch is taking place and communicate the results of these studies to the public. (Studies & Planning)
• Facilitate discussions on economic dispatch during stakeholder meetings as part of regular utility planning efforts. (Education & Technical Assistance + Utility Planning & Procurement)

Encourage Demand Response: Pursue programs that incentivize consumers to reduce or shift their electricity usage during peak periods, helping to balance supply and demand, including for variable generation sources like renewables. RMI’s 2024 exploration of how the high electricity demand of data centers may tie into demand response, as well as the Nicholas Institute’s 2024 report on load flexibility may be helpful resources as states design this action.

Sample Actions:

• Through legislation, require that utilities develop and implement demand response programs. (Requirements & Standards + Market Incentive Structures)
• Direct utilities and planners to investigate and develop an expanded portfolio of demand flexibility and virtual power plant resources in distribution and bulk system planning through pilots, updated tariffs, and partnerships with third-party virtual power plant aggregators. (Requirements & Standards)

Encourage Adoption of Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs): Support the deployment of hardware and software technologies that increase the capacity and efficiency of existing transmission infrastructure without the need for new lines. RMI’s 2023 GETs analysis, including an explanation of the major hurdles for utility GETs adoption, as well as its analysis of GETs’ impact on PJM interconnection queue times, could aid states in designing implementation pathways for this action.

Sample Actions:

• Establish a working group to study GETs deployment opportunities and benefits. (Studies & Planning)
• Through legislation or regulation, require that GETs be considered in utility planning processes. (Requirements & Standards + Utility Planning & Procurement)

Category #6: Updated Grid Infrastructure

General Category Actions

Efforts to upgrade physical and virtual transmission and distribution infrastructure.

Sample Actions:

• Support full implementation of FERC Order 1920, including engaging in regional planning entity stakeholder conversations on compliance and developing a benefits-based regional cost allocation approach. RMI’s resources on Order 1920 can help. (Process Reform + Utility & Market Incentive Structures)
• Develop a framework for sharing the costs and benefits of multi-state (regional & interregional) transmission projects among participating states, including as part of FERC Order 1920 compliance. RMI’s resources on Order 1920, its report on high value regional and interregional transmission, and its report on how Western states can benefit from increased interstate transmission capacity can aid states in developing such frameworks. (Studies & Planning + Financing Mechanisms)
• Commission an independent study to assess current and future transmission and distribution needs in the region, considering factors such as load growth and renewable energy integration. Include full consideration of reconductoring via advanced conductors and deployment of grid-enhancing technologies as solutions. Incorporate pathways to building and deploying such infrastructure, including through regional planning entities. The Colorado Electric Transmission Authority's 2024 transmission study and the Utah Office of Energy Development's 2021 transmission study are examples of state-led independent studies on transmission needs. (Studies & Planning + Siting, Permitting & Interconnection)

Solution-Specific Actions

Support the Planning and Building of Beneficial New Transmission Lines: Facilitate investment in building and upgrading grid infrastructure to enhance capacity, improve reliability, and integrate higher levels of renewable energy. One main avenue to do this could be through streamlined processes to expedite the development of new transmission lines, ensuring they are sited effectively to support renewable energy integration. RMI has published several resources on grid permitting issues, including an explanation of the need for grid infrastructure buildouts to support renewable energy deployment, a set of short- and long-term solutions for interconnection delays, an analysis of the climate impacts of the federal Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024’s transmission provisions, and the benefits of increased interregional transmission planning and capacity.

Sample Actions:

• Through legislation, create streamlined grid permitting processes that accelerate the buildout of high-priority grid lines (e.g., regional or interregional planned lines) without sacrificing environmental protections or community input. (Process Reform + Siting, Permitting & Interconnection)
• Collaborate with neighboring states on enhancing regional transmission planning to collectively meet clean generation capacity expansion goals. (Process Reform)
• Conduct a study and/or request a study from the regional transmission planning entity on key opportunities for interregional planning, with actionable infrastructure builds. (Studies & Planning)
• Ensure that state PUCs are adequately reviewing local transmission assets, and advocate for complete integration of local projects into regional planning. RMI’s recent report, Mind the Regulatory Gap: How to Enhance Local Transmission Oversight, has more information on this issue. (Process Reform)

Support the Planning and Building of New Distribution Capacity: Facilitate investment in building new distribution capacity to improve reliability, meet higher demand expectations, and integrate higher levels of clean energy.

Sample Actions:

• Ensure that bulk grid system planners integrate considerations of both the distribution and transmission system into their planning and procurement processes. (Process Reform)

Support Advanced Reconductoring for Eligible Grid Upgrades: Facilitate efforts to re-string existing transmission towers with new, higher-performance cables, which can increase electric grid capacity while sidestepping some permitting and building obstacles by leveraging existing infrastructure.

Sample Actions:

• Through legislation, establish conductor efficiency standards for transmission projects. (Requirements & Standards + Siting, Permitting & Interconnection)
• Require transmission planning processes to consider the benefits of advanced conductors. (Requirements & Standards + Utility Planning & Procurement)
• Provide education and training on the benefits and use case scenarios of advanced conductors to planners and installers. (Education & Technical Assistance)

Encourage Adoption of Grid-Enhancing Technologies: GETs can help improve both grid management and grid capacity by ensuring existing transmission lines are utilized to their fullest potential. Thus, while states can support GETs deployment to improve grid management, they can also do this to support updates of their transmission infrastructure. See the same action under Category #5 for a list of sample implementation pathways.