The Midcontinent ISO is accelerating its efforts to help bring new generation online quickly with the fifth cycle of projects to be evaluated under the Expedited Resource Addition Study (ERAS) process, it said on Sept. 8.
This cycle includes 15 proposed projects totaling approximately 7.3 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity. The portfolio spans MISO’s North, Central and South regions and includes a mix of natural gas, solar, wind and battery storage resources that are expected to be in service by 2029.
“The MISO region is undergoing rapid change, with electricity demand rising at a historic rate,” said Aubrey Johnson, MISO’s Vice President of System Planning and Competitive Transmission. “Each ERAS cycle is helping us to bring reliability critical generation online faster while we work toward long-term improvements in the interconnection process.”
The fifth study cycle will include the following ERAS projects:
- Bayou Point Combined Cycle (NextEra Energy Capital Holdings) – 750 megawatts (MW) of new gas generation in Louisiana
- Calcasieu Parish Combined Cycle (Entergy Louisiana) – 767.7 MW of new gas generation in Louisiana
- Crosley Energy Storage (NextEra Energy Capital Holdings) – 400 MW of new battery storage in Indiana
- DOUBLEC Energy Center (DOUBLEC Energy Center LLC) – 400 MW of new solar generation and 400 MW of new battery storage in Arkansas
- Little Rock Wind Project (Little Rock Wind Project LLC) – 300 MW of new wind generation in Minnesota
- Malden Battery Energy Storage System (NIPSCO) – 600 MW of new battery storage in Indiana
- Merom Energy Storage (NextEra Energy Capital Holdings) – 500 MW of new battery storage in Indiana
- Point Coupee Combined Cycle (Entergy Louisiana) – 377 MW of new gas generation in Louisiana
- Rapides Parish Combined Cycle (Cleco Power) – 756 MW of new gas generation in Louisiana
- Sandcut Energy Storage (NextEra Energy Capital Holdings) – 350 MW of new battery storage in Indiana
- Steamboat Energy Storage (NextEra Energy Capital Holdings) – 500 MW of new battery storage in Louisiana
- Sullivan County Combined Cycle (Maple Creek Energy) – 641.8 MW of new natural gas generation in Indiana
- Tradewater Energy Storage (NextEra Energy Capital Holdings) – 155 MW of new battery storage in Kentucky
- Trotman Energy Center (Trotman Energy Center LLC) – 400 MW of new gas generation in Indiana
Since the launch of the ERAS program, 58 projects representing nearly 29 GW of proposed capacity have been or will be studied.
Of these, 38 projects representing approximately 18 GW of proposed capacity have advanced to completed generator interconnection agreements, with an additional 5 projects representing approximately 3 GW of proposed capacity nearing completion.
The program is capped at 68 projects and will sunset in 2027.
