Today the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) officially expanded, connecting western and eastern electric grids and providing increased access to clean energy for major utilities across the West and Great Plains in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Utah, and Arizona.
Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) like SPP allow states and regions to share power, increasing electric grid reliability and giving electric providers the opportunity to purchase more affordable wholesale energy on open markets.
“Historically, regional energy grids have lacked interconnection, which has contributed to inefficiencies that can drive higher energy rates,” said Jessi Eidbo, Policy Advisor at Sierra Club. “We cannot understate how momentous this moment is if utilities and independent power producers are able to take advantage of the opportunity. A larger system footprint means greater resilience, greater access to a diversity of low-cost renewable energy resources, and significant opportunities for system efficiencies that can drive down consumer electricity costs.”