Commodities
PJM Draws 811 Power Project Requests in First Revamped Queue Cycle
PJM Interconnection attracted 811 generation proposals totaling 220 gigawatts in its first revamped interconnection cycle, PJM Inside Lines said Wednesday.PJM closed the April 27 application window and is reviewing submissions under its updated system, which has cleared prior backlogs and allows the new cycle to proceed without legacy delays, it said.PJM replaced its earlier first-come approach with a first-ready model, giving priority to projects that demonstrate greater readiness and clearer paths to development, PJM said.Developers must now prove project viability upfront through financial commitments and site control, a move PJM designed to limit speculative entries and accelerate approvals, the report said.Interim Chief Executive David Mills said the redesigned process aims for faster approvals while maintaining system safety, adding that favorable market signals continue to attract developer participation.PJM is also using HyperQ, an artificial intelligence tool developed by Google's Tapestry, to scan and assess large volumes of application data more efficiently, according to the report.The tool is already supporting document reviews and may reduce study timelines, while PJM plans to monitor its effectiveness during the first cycle, according to the report.The 811 applications include 349 storage projects, 157 natural gas, 142 solar, 65 wind, 45 hybrid, 27 nuclear, 11 hydro, and 15 other proposals, the report said.Total capacity stands at 220 GW, led by natural gas at 105.8 GW and storage at 66.5 GW, followed by nuclear, solar, and other sources, the report said.PJM expects electricity demand to rise by over 30 GW between 2024 and 2030, driven mainly by data centers, with supply growth lagging and increasing reliability concerns, the report said.Since 2020, PJM has processed over 300 GW of projects and secured 103 GW in agreements, though permitting and supply issues continue to slow construction, the report said.