As of March 21, 2025, the PJM Interconnection’s Reliability Resource Initiative (RRI), a fast-track interconnection process, attracted 94 applications totaling 26.6 GW. [1] The projects include new and uprated nuclear and natural gas-fired power plants, as well as new battery storage. [2] Half of the proposals are new projects and the other half increase capacity at existing power plants. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved PJM’s one-time RRI in mid-February on a 3-1 vote. PJM will consider adding up to 50 shovel-ready projects that meet certain reliability and commercial operation date criteria to the recently-started interconnection Transition Cycle 2. The RRI proposal is in response to PJM’s concerns that its power supply margins are declining in the face of power plant retirements and growing demand. PJM estimates that its initiative could bring about 10 GW online 18 months earlier than if the projects followed the normal interconnection process.

[1] https://insidelines.pjm.com/reliability-resource-initiative-draws-94-applications/

[2] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20250211-3120&optimized=false