On October 25, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) released a draft roadmap for transforming grid interconnection processes.[1] The draft plan was developed through the DOE’s Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange(i2X) stakeholder initiative and is intended to serve as a practical guide for implementing near- and long-term solutions to interconnect clean energy sources and to clear the existing backlog of renewable projects seeking to get built. New clean energy projects must go through complicated approval processes before they come online. The high volume of projects in the interconnection queue has led to uncertainties, delays, inequities, and increased costs. The draft plan focuses on four areas: increasing interconnection data access and transparency, improving the process (including speeding it up), promoting economic efficiency, and maintaining grid reliability. It calls for ensuring more equal access to interconnection queues. DOE released a request for information (RFI) to solicit input from interconnection stakeholders, and responses are due by November 22, 2023. The department expects to finalize the roadmap and release a draft second volume that focuses on the distribution grid in the coming months.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/doe-releases-draft-roadmap-improve-interconnection-clean-energy-resources-nations