Southern Renewable Energy Association
@southernrenewable.bsky.social
SREA's mission is centered on fostering sustainable practices and driving innovative advancements in renewable energy and transmission solutions across seven Southeastern states.
MISO's first interconnection queue fast lane turns up 47 projects, 74% of which are natural gas. Despite the apparent dominance of natural gas across 22 project requests, MISO leadership said the applicant pool represented a “large, diverse” assortment. www.rtoinsider.com/113407-gas-g...
26.5 GW of Mostly Gas Gen Compete for MISO’s Sped-Up Grid Treatment
MISO announced that its first interconnection queue express lane application window turned up 47 projects at a little more than 26.5 GW.
www.rtoinsider.com
August 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
MISO's first interconnection queue fast lane turns up 47 projects, 74% of which are natural gas. Despite the apparent dominance of natural gas across 22 project requests, MISO leadership said the applicant pool represented a “large, diverse” assortment. www.rtoinsider.com/113407-gas-g...
Why are five states - including the three from MISO South - filing complaints at FERC? They say these projects don’t serve the broader region and should be funded only by the states they physically pass through. It’s an appealing message - but its also an oversimplification. shorturl.at/zYZsv
Stakeholder Forum: Recent MISO Complaint Undermines Regional Transmission Planning Framework
A new attack on regional transmission planning threatens to unravel a decade of progress toward a better electric grid.
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August 18, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Why are five states - including the three from MISO South - filing complaints at FERC? They say these projects don’t serve the broader region and should be funded only by the states they physically pass through. It’s an appealing message - but its also an oversimplification. shorturl.at/zYZsv
Southern Renewable Energy Association Transmission Director Andy Kowalczyk said MISO and SPP should probably model systems stressed by summertime, especially given the springtime instances of load shedding in Louisiana for both RTOs. shorturl.at/WehhO
MISO, SPP Still on Hunt for Joint Transmission Under CSP
MISO and SPP appear undaunted in their pursuit of a beneficial interregional project after FERC rejected exemptions to their study rules.
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August 7, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Southern Renewable Energy Association Transmission Director Andy Kowalczyk said MISO and SPP should probably model systems stressed by summertime, especially given the springtime instances of load shedding in Louisiana for both RTOs. shorturl.at/WehhO
SWEPCO's proposed 27.3% base rate increase includes a proposed annual $21.5 million system improvement plan rider, which is meant to "address the resiliency of the electricity grid," according to filings. Without the rider, the proposal would raise residential rates by 20.2%. shorturl.at/zWeof
SWEPCO seeking $30 per month rate increase | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
The Southwestern Electric Power Company is seeking approval from the Arkansas Public Service Commission for a $30.46 per month residential base rate increase to account for new power generation facili...
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July 29, 2025 at 2:43 PM
SWEPCO's proposed 27.3% base rate increase includes a proposed annual $21.5 million system improvement plan rider, which is meant to "address the resiliency of the electricity grid," according to filings. Without the rider, the proposal would raise residential rates by 20.2%. shorturl.at/zWeof
A new report from ACEG & Grid Strategies shows that transmission construction is not keeping up with demand, jeopardizing reliability, affordability, and economic competitiveness. High-voltage lines are faster, cheaper, and smarter—but we’re building far too few. Learn more ➡️ bit.ly/4f1Beea
Report: Fewer New Miles: Strategic Industries Held Back by Slow Pace of Transmission
Today, Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG) and Grid Strategies released the report “Large-Scale Transmission Deployment Saves Consumers Money.”
bit.ly
July 22, 2025 at 4:12 PM
A new report from ACEG & Grid Strategies shows that transmission construction is not keeping up with demand, jeopardizing reliability, affordability, and economic competitiveness. High-voltage lines are faster, cheaper, and smarter—but we’re building far too few. Learn more ➡️ bit.ly/4f1Beea
So far in 2025, utilities have requested $29 billion in rate hikes - and nearly half of those customers impacted by hikes are in the South, where utilities have requested a combined $1.8billion in rate increases. shorturl.at/fVIXv
As building new power gets harder, US utilities seek record rate increases
So far in 2025, utilities have requested $29 billion in rate hikes — and the Trump megabill threatens to increase costs further.
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July 21, 2025 at 4:34 PM
So far in 2025, utilities have requested $29 billion in rate hikes - and nearly half of those customers impacted by hikes are in the South, where utilities have requested a combined $1.8billion in rate increases. shorturl.at/fVIXv
Most people are aware that solar & wind energy are weather-dependent, but so is natural gas and nuclear energy, which both require significant cooling systems to operate well. Weather impacts the grid from almost every angle. shorturl.at/Q9N0f
As hurricane season ramps up, how likely is it that the power will go out in New Orleans? - Verite News New Orleans
Following the disastrous outage from Hurricane Ida in 2021, Entergy New Orleans has invested in grid hardening, but is it doing enough to prevent the next outage?
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July 15, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Most people are aware that solar & wind energy are weather-dependent, but so is natural gas and nuclear energy, which both require significant cooling systems to operate well. Weather impacts the grid from almost every angle. shorturl.at/Q9N0f
It's time for real leadership in Louisiana, not resignation. Louisiana is at a cross in the road - meet the challenge of interregional transmission planning between MISO & SPP or let the next load shed event remind us of what we have failed to build. shorturl.at/prDIo
@simonmahan.bsky.social
@simonmahan.bsky.social
Fiddling While Louisiana Burns: FERC's Failure, State Paralysis, and the Case for Interregional Transmission Reform
This spring, Louisiana experienced two catastrophic, but preventable, grid failures: One in Shreveport in April, and another in New Orleans in May....
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July 14, 2025 at 6:17 PM
It's time for real leadership in Louisiana, not resignation. Louisiana is at a cross in the road - meet the challenge of interregional transmission planning between MISO & SPP or let the next load shed event remind us of what we have failed to build. shorturl.at/prDIo
@simonmahan.bsky.social
@simonmahan.bsky.social
SREA Exec Director @simonmahan.bsky.social appeared before Entergy’s state regulators to urge them to think twice before considering leaving MISO for the Southeast Energy Exchange Market. Presentation comes on the heels of calls for Louisiana to join SEEM. shorturl.at/GuQ7j
Southern Renewable Group Cautions MISO State Regulators Considering SEEM
SREA appeared before Entergy’s state regulators to urge them to think twice before considering joining SEEM.
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July 14, 2025 at 1:41 PM
SREA Exec Director @simonmahan.bsky.social appeared before Entergy’s state regulators to urge them to think twice before considering leaving MISO for the Southeast Energy Exchange Market. Presentation comes on the heels of calls for Louisiana to join SEEM. shorturl.at/GuQ7j
As wind energy development accelerates across the South, so does opposition to projects. We're making available to county, parish officials ACP's Model Wind Ordinance which provides a framework to regulate wind farms in a way that supports economic dev & landowner participation. shorturl.at/DcehP
Wind Power Rising: How Counties & Parishes in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi Can Lead with Smart Siting
Click here to download a model ordinance template for wind energy.
Heatmap News reports that development of new wind and solar power plants is now...
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July 8, 2025 at 6:30 PM
As wind energy development accelerates across the South, so does opposition to projects. We're making available to county, parish officials ACP's Model Wind Ordinance which provides a framework to regulate wind farms in a way that supports economic dev & landowner participation. shorturl.at/DcehP
American Power Alliance, SREA call on Georgia PSC to adopt amendments to Georgia Power IRP, including initiating #txmission working group, accelerating CIR program, creating renewables stakeholder working group plus calls for adding additional GWs of renewables, storage by 2032. shorturl.at/yT9S9
Advanced Power Alliance, SREA call on Public Service Commission to adopt amendments to Georgia Power’s 2025 IRP
ATLANTA (July 3, 2025) - In a joint Post-Hearing Brief submitted today, the Advanced Power Alliance (APA) and the Southern Renewable Energy...
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July 3, 2025 at 4:54 PM
American Power Alliance, SREA call on Georgia PSC to adopt amendments to Georgia Power IRP, including initiating #txmission working group, accelerating CIR program, creating renewables stakeholder working group plus calls for adding additional GWs of renewables, storage by 2032. shorturl.at/yT9S9
Yes, transmission strategies were key topics at the SERTP Q2 mtg. And yes, there were recurring questions about Order 1920 compliance, and stakeholder calls for improved transparency, data access. But also, 7 days after the meeting, materials haven't been posted to the website 👀
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At SERTP’s Q2 Meeting, Transmission Planning in the Southeast Continues with Some Improvements
Stakeholders at the Southeast Regional Transmission Planning (SERTP) meeting on June 26 in Chattanooga were presented with the 10- year forecasts...
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July 2, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Yes, transmission strategies were key topics at the SERTP Q2 mtg. And yes, there were recurring questions about Order 1920 compliance, and stakeholder calls for improved transparency, data access. But also, 7 days after the meeting, materials haven't been posted to the website 👀
shorturl.at/zh32U
shorturl.at/zh32U
Extreme weather - like heat domes - are placing stress on the grid, putting customers at risk of blackouts that can cause significant economic damage. Regulators and utilities must take a regional approach to transmission planning to protect consumers. shorturl.at/Gn8Gt
SERTP_Regional_Planning_Report_FINAL.pdf
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June 25, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Extreme weather - like heat domes - are placing stress on the grid, putting customers at risk of blackouts that can cause significant economic damage. Regulators and utilities must take a regional approach to transmission planning to protect consumers. shorturl.at/Gn8Gt
SPP's FERNS is a powerful blueprint for how an RTO can lead on future planning. It demonstrates that renewables, when integrated with thoughtful transmission expansion and reliability planning, are not just compatible with resource adequacy - they are central to it. shorturl.at/JMNpc #energySky
Is 90% Renewables in Southwest Power Pool's Future?
Headquartered in Little Rock, the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has published the results of its long-awaited Future Energy and Resource Needs Study...
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June 23, 2025 at 4:37 PM
SPP's FERNS is a powerful blueprint for how an RTO can lead on future planning. It demonstrates that renewables, when integrated with thoughtful transmission expansion and reliability planning, are not just compatible with resource adequacy - they are central to it. shorturl.at/JMNpc #energySky
The power plants are located directly south of the De Queen Primary School and will provide a total of 4.280 megawatts of clean, renewable energy benefiting the city, school district, and county through net-metering. shorturl.at/OnoCk
Scenic Hill Solar opens 3 solar power plants in southwest Arkansas - Talk Business & Politics
North Little Rock-based Scenic Hill Solar, in partnership with the City of De Queen, De Queen School District, and Sevier County, completed three state-of-the-art solar power plants in the southwest.....
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June 20, 2025 at 4:33 PM
The power plants are located directly south of the De Queen Primary School and will provide a total of 4.280 megawatts of clean, renewable energy benefiting the city, school district, and county through net-metering. shorturl.at/OnoCk
Georgia cannot afford another failed RFP - the state needs a process that works. A robust, transparent, and fair RFP can attract the investment needed to secure affordable, reliable power for the long term, writes @simonmahan.bsky.social. More on the Georgia CARES struggles at: shorturl.at/eE6bO
Georgia CARES? Solar RFP Struggles in the Peach State
In July 2022, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) directed Georgia Power to procure 2,100 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy resources...
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June 17, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Georgia cannot afford another failed RFP - the state needs a process that works. A robust, transparent, and fair RFP can attract the investment needed to secure affordable, reliable power for the long term, writes @simonmahan.bsky.social. More on the Georgia CARES struggles at: shorturl.at/eE6bO
Written testimony filed today for SREA to the Kentucky PSC recommends that a competitive procurement process, aligned with utility best practices, will benefit LG&E/KU ratepayers.
"Competition protects system reliability, and ratepayers’ pocketbooks,” said @simonmahan.bsky.social. shorturl.at/AfLZ3
"Competition protects system reliability, and ratepayers’ pocketbooks,” said @simonmahan.bsky.social. shorturl.at/AfLZ3
Competition Is the Missing Ingredient: Why LG&E/KU Must Open the Door to Battery Storage Bids
When it comes to building the energy grid of the future, Kentucky has a golden opportunity - and a clear choice. Will utilities embrace competition...
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June 16, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Written testimony filed today for SREA to the Kentucky PSC recommends that a competitive procurement process, aligned with utility best practices, will benefit LG&E/KU ratepayers.
"Competition protects system reliability, and ratepayers’ pocketbooks,” said @simonmahan.bsky.social. shorturl.at/AfLZ3
"Competition protects system reliability, and ratepayers’ pocketbooks,” said @simonmahan.bsky.social. shorturl.at/AfLZ3
Cleco - the investor owned utility that services more than 300k customers across 24 parishes in Louisiana - has begun searching for a buyer. shorturl.at/GxhFj #energySky
Cleco is looking for a buyer. Here's who is expected to bid on the Louisiana utility.
The investor-owned utility — which provides electricity to nearly 300,000 customers across 24 Louisiana parishes — has notified regulators on the Louisiana Public Service Commission that it has begun ...
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June 16, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Cleco - the investor owned utility that services more than 300k customers across 24 parishes in Louisiana - has begun searching for a buyer. shorturl.at/GxhFj #energySky
The electricity that powers your home might start at a power plant to the east, a wind farm to the west, or a solar and battery storage facility to the south. But how does it get to us? Watch this video to learn how, and why new power lines matter to you. tinyurl.com/PowerLines101
Power Lines 101: Why New Power Lines Matter To You
We all want electricity service we can count on, with as low a bill as possible. That’s why new power lines to solve bottlenecks on our electric grid are so…
tinyurl.com
June 13, 2025 at 2:35 PM
The electricity that powers your home might start at a power plant to the east, a wind farm to the west, or a solar and battery storage facility to the south. But how does it get to us? Watch this video to learn how, and why new power lines matter to you. tinyurl.com/PowerLines101
On the Blog: The challenges facing the Southeast power grid are real—but so are the opportunities. With better planning, fair interconnection policies, and smart transmission investment, MISO can harness the strengths of all resource types. shorturl.at/0twwU #energySKy @simonmahan.bsky.social
MISO Board Meetings Underscore Southeast Reliability Needs—and Why More Transmission and Resource Diversity Matter
June 2025 Update Highlights Both Progress and Pressure Points in Building a Fairer, Faster, and More Resilient Grid
Midcontinent Independent System...
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June 12, 2025 at 1:57 PM
On the Blog: The challenges facing the Southeast power grid are real—but so are the opportunities. With better planning, fair interconnection policies, and smart transmission investment, MISO can harness the strengths of all resource types. shorturl.at/0twwU #energySKy @simonmahan.bsky.social
In case you haven't seen the report released Monday by Americans for a Clean Energy Grid and Grid Strategies LLC quantifying the consumer benefits of well-planned transmission, then check out the latest SREA blog for a quick primer on the value of the report: shorturl.at/nIzb7
Our Aging Grid is Costing Us Massive Amounts of Money. Time for a New One.
If your electricity bill has been bothering you lately, you’re not alone. Across the region, and indeed across the country, residential electric...
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June 11, 2025 at 2:14 PM
In case you haven't seen the report released Monday by Americans for a Clean Energy Grid and Grid Strategies LLC quantifying the consumer benefits of well-planned transmission, then check out the latest SREA blog for a quick primer on the value of the report: shorturl.at/nIzb7
Building solar & storage generation that is shovel-ready as well as near-term transmission fixes, in addition to planning the transmission grid for the future is key to not only success, but a safer #Louisiana, & a better quality of life for the people who live there. #energySky shorturl.at/LNuh4
What really caused New Orleans' May 25 blackout?
Now that more than a week has lapsed since the massive May 25 load shed event in Southeast Louisiana, details have emerged regarding the scale of...
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June 2, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Building solar & storage generation that is shovel-ready as well as near-term transmission fixes, in addition to planning the transmission grid for the future is key to not only success, but a safer #Louisiana, & a better quality of life for the people who live there. #energySky shorturl.at/LNuh4
New research from the U of Ark shows that even if solar grew to 15k MW of capacity – the same electrical generating capacity Arkansas has from natural gas, coal, nuclear and renewables – only 137k of the 13.7 million acres would be occupied by solar panels. #energySky
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Solar energy growth won’t eat into farmland, U of A study finds - Arkansas Times
Researchers at the University of Arkansas tackle the myth that solar will displace Arkansas farmland.
arktimes.com
May 29, 2025 at 7:51 PM
New research from the U of Ark shows that even if solar grew to 15k MW of capacity – the same electrical generating capacity Arkansas has from natural gas, coal, nuclear and renewables – only 137k of the 13.7 million acres would be occupied by solar panels. #energySky
arktimes.com/arkansas-blo...
arktimes.com/arkansas-blo...
The rejection of MISO’s ERAS is just the first step in MISO developing ERAS 2.0. The next iteration will likely need to come with stronger guardrails to ensure that the queue doesn’t become an additional bottleneck for much needed new generation in the MISO footprint. #energySky shorturl.at/JEOpX
FERC Rejects MISO's ERAS Proposal - What's Next?
On May 16, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rejected the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) proposal to provide a...
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May 22, 2025 at 2:52 PM
The rejection of MISO’s ERAS is just the first step in MISO developing ERAS 2.0. The next iteration will likely need to come with stronger guardrails to ensure that the queue doesn’t become an additional bottleneck for much needed new generation in the MISO footprint. #energySky shorturl.at/JEOpX
“Conservatively, you’re seeing five to 10 times more interconnection requests than data centers actually being built,” said Astrid Atkinson, a former Google senior director of software engineering, now co-founder & CEO of grid optimization software provider Camus Energy. #energySky shorturl.at/nI7Fz
A fraction of proposed data centers will get built. Utilities are wising up.
One expert estimated that speculative interconnection requests were five to 10 times more than the number of actual data centers, but the scale of the problem remains elusive.
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May 19, 2025 at 3:02 PM
“Conservatively, you’re seeing five to 10 times more interconnection requests than data centers actually being built,” said Astrid Atkinson, a former Google senior director of software engineering, now co-founder & CEO of grid optimization software provider Camus Energy. #energySky shorturl.at/nI7Fz