‘Get rid of competition’? FERC and the push for power lines
Minimizing the costs of transmission is critical considering the amount of investment needed to support a carbon-free energy system, said Devin Hartman, director of energy and environmental policy at the free-market focused R Street Institute and a former analyst at FERC.
If competition in the transmission planning process is reduced, that could ultimately make new power lines more expensive for consumers — potentially creating “backlash” against building out a robust, carbon-free grid, Hartman said.
“You want to plan for the future, of course. But if you don’t have the right governance process in place, it’s not clear you’re going to accomplish your objectives,” Hartman said.
