New Federal Rule Aims to Revamp U.S. Power Grid for Renewable Energy

FERC's new regulation mandates long-term planning and infrastructure upgrades to boost grid capacity and reliability.

The rule requires regional grid operators to forecast transmission needs 20 years ahead and update plans every five years.
Utilities must identify opportunities to upgrade existing infrastructure to increase capacity.
The regulation aims to facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources like wind and solar into the grid.
The rule addresses the growing electricity demand from electric vehicles, data centers, and new factories.
Implementation of the rule may face legal challenges but has broad bipartisan support.