The Midcontinent ISO on May 27 announced the fourth cycle of projects to be evaluated under its Expedited Resource Addition Study (ERAS) process, “marking another step forward in accelerating the deployment of critical generation resources across the region.”
This latest cycle includes seven projects totaling approximately 3.7 gigawatts of proposed new capacity.
The portfolio consists of a mix of natural gas, solar and battery storage resources located across MISO’s Central and South regions. The projects are expected to be in-service by 2029.
“ERAS continues to deliver meaningful progress by moving viable projects forward with greater speed,” said Aubrey Johnson, MISO’s Vice President of System Planning and Competitive Transmission. “Each cycle reinforces its value as part of a coordinated strategy to meet evolving system needs.”
The fourth cycle of ERAS projects includes:
• Blue Jacket Solar (Blue Jacket Solar, LLC) – 200 megawatts (MW) of new solar generation in Illinois
• Pumpkin Patch Solar (Pumpkin Patch Solar, LLC) – 200 MW of new solar generation in Illinois
• Malden Combined-Cycle Power Plant (NIPSCO) – 859 MW of new gas generation in Indiana
• Merom Generating Station (Hallador Power Company) – 530 MW of new gas generation in Indiana
• Neenah Generating Station (Alliant Energy/Wisconsin Power and Light Company) – 150 MW of new gas generation in Wisconsin
• Richland Parish 3 & 4 (Entergy Louisiana) – 1,531 MW of new gas generation in Louisiana
• Tradewater Energy Storage (NextEra Energy) – 230 MW of new battery storage in Kentucky
Since its launch, the ERAS program has accepted or is currently validating 58 projects representing nearly 28 GW of proposed capacity. Of these, 25 projects representing approximately 11 GW of proposed capacity have advanced to completed generator interconnection agreements, with an additional 15 projects representing approximately 8 GW of proposed capacity nearing completion.
The program is capped at 68 projects and is scheduled to sunset on August 31, 2027.
“ERAS is one of several coordinated efforts underway to improve how projects advance through the generator interconnection process,” Johnson added. “From queue caps to new automation tools, we’re taking concrete steps to reduce timelines and better support our members and the communities that depend on them.”
To date, MISO has studied more than 19 GW of proposed capacity through the ERAS process.
