Effective Strategies for Streamlining Interconnection

January 22-23, 2025 | Online :: Central Time

0125-interconnection-queues

“EUCI is one of the best ways to keep up on trends in the utility business!” Principal Assistant City Attorney, City of Glendale Water and Power

This conference will explore the critical strategies, policies, and technical solutions essential for navigating the evolving landscape of interconnection queues. From addressing the challenges of long wait times, high interconnection costs, and regulatory hurdles, to examining innovative reforms and technological advancements, attendees will gain actionable insights into streamlining interconnection processes. The conference will cover key regulatory updates, such as FERC Orders 2023 and 2023-A, technical best practices for renewable energy modeling, and case studies highlighting real-world applications.

Whether you’re a seasoned expert or new to interconnection challenges, this conference offers the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions with industry leaders, regulators, and engineers. Topics will span the latest advancements, legal hurdles, M&A strategies, and the role of batteries in optimizing interconnection solutions. By attending, you will enhance your understanding of the processes shaping today’s interconnected energy infrastructure and gain the tools to contribute to a more sustainable and resilient energy future.

Learning Outcomes

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of interconnection queues, including their role, challenges, and opportunities in shaping renewable energy deployment
• Explore the efficiencies introduced by FERC Order No. 2023 in streamlining the interconnection process, as well as the remaining challenges that may cause project delays
• Explore the regional differences in interconnection processes across ISOs/RTOs, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches and understanding the results
• Assess the viability of retail interconnection programs compared to wholesale processes
• Explore the technical considerations during interconnection studies, including renewable energy resource modeling, project lifecycle, and impacts of system/requirement changes
• Recognize the modeling requirements and challenges specific to various ISOs/RTOs, including ERCOT, MISO, ISO-NE, and TVA, and discuss compliance considerations and real-world case studies
• Discover the policy and regulatory landscape affecting interconnection processes, including recent orders and compliance filings

Wednesday, January 22, 2025 : Central Time

 

9:00 – 9:05 a.m. :: Overview and Instructions

9:05 – 10:05 a.m. :: The Interconnection Dilemma: A Roadmap for Unlocking Queue Backlogs

The backlog of new power generation and energy storage seeking transmission connections across the U.S. has grown dramatically in recent years, with roughly 2,600 GW of generation and storage now active in U.S. queues. This backlog has resulted in long wait times for projects stuck in the queues, low completion rates, and high interconnection costs – threatening the reliability, affordability, and sustainability of the U.S. power sector. In addition to summarizing the latest interconnection queue and cost data and analysis from LBNL, this presentation will highlight the recent Transmission Interconnection Roadmap from the Department of Energy’s Interconnection Innovation eXchange (i2X) program. The Roadmap identifies 35 solutions to address interconnection challenges on the transmission grid and serves as a practical guide for creating near – and long-term opportunities for industry collaboration.

Joe Rand, Energy Policy Researcher, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

10:05 – 11:05 a.m. :: Insights from Recent FERC Interconnection Actions

This presentation will delve into the historical trajectory and recent developments of FERC interconnection policies, beginning with a concise exploration of the background and evolution of FERC’s approach to interconnection. A high-level summary of Order Nos. 2023 and 2023-A will be discussed, and attendees will gain insights into the key provisions and regulatory shifts introduced by these orders. Finally, this presentation will touch on emerging trends and hot topics derived from Order 2023/2023-A compliance filings, ongoing appeals on these orders, as well as other interconnection-related developments at FERC such as conferences and pending proposals.

Adrienne Thompson, Partner, Troutman Pepper

11:05 – 11:15 a.m. :: Morning Break

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. :: How to Efficiently Connect New Generation to the Grid

This session will explore the challenges and inefficiencies in the current generator interconnection process. Attendees will explore the extent to which the changes already required by FERC Order 2023 will lead to meaningful improvements to the generator interconnection process and walk through a series of promising reforms that would unlock further improvements. The presentation will touch on why these reforms will improve the interconnection process, where some are already being considered, and how they can be implemented.

Caitlin Marquis, Managing Director for Wholesale Markets, Advanced Energy United

12:15 – 1:00 p.m. :: Legal Hurdles in the Interconnection Process During the Development Lifecycle

Renewable Energy and battery storage developers often face difficulties as they navigate the interconnection process during development and financing of a project. This presentation will cover common challenges encountered during the development of a project and how legal support can help resolve these issues. It will discuss when and how to involve counsel as well as potential resolutions for common hurdles, including access to information, real estate road blocks, and timing delays. Attendees will gain an understanding of how to navigate balancing a relationship with RTOs/ISOs and utilities and when to put legal pressure on these entities to meet project timelines.

Mackenzie Meinhold, Senior Associate General Counsel, Aypa Power

1:00 – 1:45 p.m. :: Lunch Break

1:45 – 2:45 p.m. :: Renewable Energy M&A: Strategies for Value Creation and Interconnection Solutions

As the renewable energy sector continues to expand, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have become a crucial strategy for growth, allowing investors to capitalize on new opportunities while navigating complex industry challenges. This talk will examine the critical aspects of M&A in the renewable space, with a focus on the importance of due diligence in evaluating financials, technical risks, and regulatory factors. A comparison of greenfield development versus M&A will highlight the trade-offs between control, risk, and financial return, helping stakeholders understand the pros and cons of each approach. Additionally, the role of M&A in mitigating interconnection delays will be explored, showing how acquiring projects that are further along in the interconnection process or already operational can significantly reduce project timelines and risks.

Hui Zhang, Senior Director – Interconnection and Engineering, ContourGlobal

2:45 – 3:15 p.m. :: Role of Battery in Reducing Interconnection Challenges for Solar Projects

This presentation will detail the process to add battery to existing solar projects and discuss its role in reducing interconnection challenges.

Brindavani Malladi, Vice President – Transmission and Interconnection, Arevon Energy, Inc.

3:15 – 3:30 p.m. :: Afternoon Break

3:30 – 4:15 p.m. :: New Generator Interconnection in Transmission Grids

As the energy transition proceeds and load forecasts grow, the ability to bring new generation online expeditiously is paramount to reliability and affordability. However, inefficiencies in legacy interconnection processes encumber the ability to achieve our goals. This presentation will provide context on generator interconnection in wholesale electricity markets in the US and describe the further reforms necessary to improve interconnection processes.

Dr. Sarah Toth Kotwis, Senior Associate, RMI

 

Thursday, January 23, 2025 : Central Time

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. :: An Engineer’s View of the Queue

This presentation will be a high-level overview of the study process that clusters go through on the path to an LGIA. It will cover the technical considerations during the study process including the difference between network resources and energy resources. In addition, a review of the study status of SPP and MISO’s queue as examples of timelines.

Jeff Norman, Director of Grid Integration, National Renewable Solutions

9:30 – 10:00 a.m. :: Implementation of IEEE 2800 Across Different Regions

This presentation will provide an overview of how IEEE 2800 is being applied across different markets and its impact to interconnection requirements.

Sameh Al-Eryani, Engineering Manager, Electric Power Engineers

10:00 – 10:15 a.m. :: Morning Break

10:15 – 11:15 a.m. :: Renewable Energy Resource Modeling: Planning to Operations

This presentation will include a discussion on the following topics:

• Overview of modeling requirements, i.e. ISOs, IEEE 2800, FERC 2023, NERC, etc.
• Typical project lifecycle: planning to operations
  • Outlining key model changes throughout the process
  • Identifying gaps in the process between OEMs, developers and ISOs/TSPs
• Impacts of system/requirement changes for existing projects

Billy F. Yancey III, Vice President Technical Services and Compliance, Electric Power Engineers

11:15 – 12:00 p.m. :: Are Retail Interconnection Queues a Better Option?

This presentation will cover retail interconnection in the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company service territory. The proposition that retail programs may be a better and quicker option than participating in the wholesale interconnection process will be reviewed. Additionally, this session will cover the following topics:

• Maryland regulation
• BGE programs
• The BGE interconnection queue
• Timelines to deliver projects from application to permission to operation

James Mirabile, Principal Engineer, Baltimore Gas & Electric

Sameh Al-Eryani, Engineering Manager, Electric Power Engineers

Sameh Al-Eryani is a professional electrical engineer (P.Eng) with over 13 years of experience in transmission system planning, capital planning, and asset management. He holds an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Calgary. Sameh has led major transmission projects in Alberta and contributed to the development of long-term transmission plans, asset management strategies, and capital replacement programs valued in the millions. In his current role, Sameh leads a team that supports developers with interconnection to various markets in the Eastern Interconnection. This includes site selection, prospective generation and large load interconnection studies, interconnection applications, shadow studies and interconnection support before and past the interconnection agreement. 

---

Brindavani Malladi, Vice President – Transmission and Interconnection, Arevon Energy, Inc.

Brindavani Malladi (Brinda) is the Head of Transmission and Interconnection at Arevon, where she leads strategic transmission and market assessments and manages the interconnection of new projects in markets across the United States. Prior to joining Arevon, Brinda spent over 13 years at PJM performing generation interconnection, deactivation, and transmission expansion studies with focus on process improvements. Earlier in the career Brinda wrote and published technical papers on Congestion Pricing and Interconnection process. Brinda holds a Bachelor of Technology in Electrical Engineering and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of New Brunswick.

---

Caitlin Marquis, Managing Director for Wholesale Markets, Advanced Energy United

Caitlin Marquis is Advanced Energy United’s Managing Director overseeing engagement on matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Regional Transmission Organizations. Caitlin oversees a team that engages directly in stakeholder proceedings at ISO-NE, MISO, PJM, and SPP, on behalf of a diverse membership of clean energy business. Caitlin previously represented Advanced Energy United in the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) stakeholder process. Prior to United, Caitlin supported corporate renewable energy procurement efforts. Caitlin has a BA from Harvard College and an MSc. In environmental change and management from Oxford University.

---

Mackenzie Meinhold, Senior Associate General Counsel, Aypa Power

Mackenzie started in the renewable industry in 2015 as in-house counsel to a solar developer and EPC contractor.  She is currently Senior Associate General Counsel at Aypa Power, a battery storage and renewable energy developer and IPP.  At Aypa, Mackenzie primarily supports development, M&A, financing and general corporate work.   Prior to Aypa, she was Associate General Counsel at AES Clean Energy where she supported development efforts for wind, solar and storage facilities.  Mackenzie has also worked in private practice as an associate at Mintz, an Am100 law firm, where she advised on renewable energy development and financings. Mackenzie is licensed in Utah, North Carolina and the District of Columbia.  She holds a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School and earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Pittsburgh.

---

James Mirabile, Principal Engineer, Baltimore Gas & Electric

Mr. Mirabile is the principal engineer in BGE’s Green Power Connection Team. He works with developers every day to ensure that their projects are moving forward in the interconnection process in a hassle-free manner. Mr. Mirabile is a professional engineer licensed in the state of Maryland.

 

 

---

Jeff Norman, Director of Grid Integration, National Renewable Solutions

Jeff has more than 20 years of electric utility experience. As Director of Grid Integration at NRS, Jeff leads efforts to identify, file and manage all project interconnection applications and study coordination. In addition, Jeff is the NRS representative on utility interconnection-related processes through Interconnection Agreement and facility grid integration. Prior to joining NRS, Jeff spent over 10 years in NERC regulatory compliance assessing the technical adherence to standards for over 200 registered entities. He also spent 10 years as an engineering consultant, splitting his time between assisting independent power producer/developers and supporting large utilities with transmission study projects.

Jeff holds a BS and MS in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from Carlson School of Management. In addition, Jeff is a licensed professional engineer and certified Compliance & Ethics Professional.

---

Joe Rand, Energy Policy Researcher, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Joe Rand is an Energy Policy Researcher in the Energy Markets and Policy Department at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Joe conducts research and analysis on renewable energy, including: renewable energy policy, cost, and market analysis; spatial data analysis; and leads research related to social impacts and perceptions, interconnection, and deployment barriers of renewable energy. Joe’s impactful research has been widely covered in the popular press, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, NPR, and more. He was awarded the Berkeley Lab Director’s Award for Societal Impact, an “Excellence Award” from the Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG), the Switzer Environmental Fellowship, the ‘Novus Ventus’ award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Power Program.

---

Adrienne Thompson, Partner, Troutman Pepper

Adrienne is a seasoned attorney specializing in regulatory and transactional matters within the energy sector, particularly focusing on electric energy generation, marketing, and transmission. With a strong emphasis on FERC proceedings, Adrienne navigates clients through intricate regulatory landscapes, particularly under the Federal Power Act (FPA) and the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA). Her expertise extends to advising clients on compliance and business intricacies surrounding transmission and interconnection related agreements. Beyond FERC, Adrienne advocates for clients in rate case proceedings and disputes across various regulatory bodies, including the Bonneville Power Administration, CAISO, and other ISOs/RTOs nationwide, as well as representing clients in appellate courts. As the managing partner of the firm’s Portland office, Adrienne brings leadership and insight to her practice. Before joining the firm, she clerked for Oregon Supreme Court Justice Jack L. Landau and contributed her expertise to The George Washington University Law School’s Sustainable Energy Initiative. Adrienne’s commitment lies in simplifying complex energy issues into actionable advice, ensuring clients’ commercial interests and transmission rights are safeguarded effectively.

---

Dr. Sarah Toth Kotwis, Senior Associate, RMI

Dr. Sarah Toth Kotwis is a senior associate on the Clean Competitive Grids team within RMI’s Carbon-Free Electricity Program. She focuses on both the technical and process aspects of generator interconnection reform in wholesale electricity market contexts across the United States to enable an affordable, reliable, and equitable energy transition.

 

---

Billy F. Yancey III, Vice President Technical Services and Compliance, Electric Power Engineers

Billy has 15 years of experience supporting utilities and renewable energy developers integrate new technologies into the power grid. At EPE, he leads a team of subject matter experts performing various R&D initiatives, such as integration of grid forming inverters, Grid Enhancing Technologies and impact of EV penetration. He participates in numerous working groups held by respective ISOs, NERC, IEEE and CIGRE focused on IBR modeling, performance and validation. He has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Arkansas State University and a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University.

---

Hui Zhang, (Previously) Power Systems Director, AES Corporation

Hui Zhang was a Power Systems Director at the AES Corporation, where he led grid analysis and delivered insights on the implementation of Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs) to address challenges in grid operations, planning, and generation interconnection. Hui previously served as a manager of Operations Engineering and Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) operations at Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). His earlier roles included key positions at the California ISO and Appian Way Energy Partners. Hui holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University, and an MBA from UC Berkeley. Hui is a NERC Certified System Operator, a Professional Engineer (PE) licensed in California, and an IEEE Senior Member.

 

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
• You will receive a separate email with a unique link to a personalized landing page which will include links to join all sessions of this event.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

Please Note: Confirmed speakers do not need to register and are encouraged to participate in all sessions of the event. If you are a speaker and have any questions please contact our offices at 1.303.770.8800

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Effective Strategies for Streamlining Interconnection

January 22-23, 2025 | Online

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before December 19, 2024 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.9 CEUs for this event

Verify our IACET accreditation

Who recognizes IACET Credits?

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must long on and be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Instructional Methods

Power Point presentations, open discussion, and Q&A

---

Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Conference CPE Credits: 10.5
There is no prerequisite for this Conference.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None

EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

 

Who Should Attend

• Interconnection Administrators
• Project Developers
• Legal Counsel
• Engineers
• Energy Industry Analysts
• Resource Planners
• Economists
• Grid & Transmission Planners
• Regulatory Affairs Specialists
• Financial Analysts
• Utility Representatives
• Technical Services Vice Presidents
• Compliance Officers