On October 19, 2021, PJM Interconnection[1], the largest regional transmission organization (RTO) in the U.S., published the Phase 1 results of its Offshore Wind Transmission Study.[2] In the study, PJM partnered with state agencies in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Virginia to identify transmission solutions across the RTO’s footprint to deliver offshore wind generation. Current offshore wind policy targets among PJM’s member states total 14,268 MW. In addition, within PJM, ten states and the District of Columbia have mandatory Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) targets.

In the study, PJM analyzed offshore wind injection totals ranging from 6,416 MW to 17,016 MW, as well as modeling state RPS targets. Of the five scenarios analyzed in Phase 1, one scenario was short-term, modeling out to 2027, while the remaining four scenarios were long-term, modeling out to 2035. The estimated cost to upgrade existing onshore transmission ranged from $627.34 million in the short-term scenario to $2.16 billion to $3.21 billion in the long-term scenarios. While the states in PJM’s footprint each have different offshore wind goals and policies, the report determined that coordinated planning among states could be a more efficient path to achieving these objectives than each state working independently.

[1] PJM serves all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

[2] https://www.pjm.com/-/media/library/reports-notices/special-reports/2021/20211019-offshore-wind-transmission-study-phase-1-results.ashx