The PJM Interconnection reviewed the proposals being considered for the 2025 Regional Transmission Expansion Plan Window 1 during the Dec. 8 meeting of the Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee (TEAC).
Sami Abdulsalam, Director – Transmission Planning, presented an update of the major system needs targeted by the RTEP Window and details of projects recommended by PJM Planning staff to meet them.
The planning window, which was open from June 18 to Aug. 18, 2025, addresses separate needs in the eastern, southern and western areas of the PJM footprint. Those needs are driven by accelerated load growth in multiple regions, the addition of new generation in southern Virginia, the current delays and potential removal of New Jersey offshore wind projects, and increased regional flows toward the eastern portions of PJM’s footprint.
The Mid-Atlantic Region in eastern PJM is experiencing large load growth coupled with potential generation project delays or cancellations along the shoreline, primarily offshore wind. These developments are driving more imports into PJM’s eastern areas, requiring reinforcement along the west-to-east power transfer corridor.
This need is proposed to be addressed via a number of in-zone 500 kV upgrades and one new 765 kV transmission line connecting central and eastern PJM, the grid operator said.
In western PJM, load growth in heavy load pockets –- such as in Ohio –- and the need to enable higher, bulk west-to-east power transfers, also are driving the need for further reinforcement along the area’s preexisting 765 kV network to maintain system reliability.
These reliability needs are proposed to be addressed via a number of 345 kV lines and lower in-zone upgrades, as well as with the introduction of a third 765 kV transmission line stretching from the western edge of the AEP footprint (along the PJM-MISO border) and through the Columbus, Ohio, area.
The Dominion area, which includes parts of Virginia and North Carolina, shows multiple violations of reliability standards along its primary south-north corridor, PJM said.
Future reliability issues are being driven predominantly by:
- Enabling more local, future generation in southern Virginia to serve the Dominion load pockets in the northern and central Dominion footprint
- Increases in electricity demand, or load, with a heavier concentration in the northern Virginia area
- Further increase in PJM load overall -- including data center load in Ohio and the PPL service territories in northeast/central Pennsylvania besides the southern PJM load growth
"These needs require the development of backbone transmission enhancements to enable transfers to reliably support all regions of the PJM footprint. The estimated total cost for this expansion of the transmission system is approximately $11.6 billion," it said.
The southern transmission backbone, including a proposed 525 kV High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission link, will support the transfer of generation resource capacity from the southern edge of the PJM system into northern Virginia and help balance flows west to east and south to north. HVDC technology can move large amounts of power over very long distances. This line would be buried under overhead lines in existing rights-of-way.
PJM chose the final recommended projects from a total of 134 proposals -- 57 greenfield projects and 77 upgrades to existing facilities -- submitted by 19 entities.
PJM initially briefed stakeholders on the submitted proposals at the Oct. 8 TEAC meeting. PJM then reviewed the short list of proposals being considered during the Nov. 4 meeting.
Also posted with the Dec. 8 meeting materials were draft versions of the reliability analysis and constructability and construction analysis.
PJM is requesting and encouraging stakeholder feedback related to the selected proposals and will discuss the projects again in a second reading in January. Comments sent to PJM Customer Service (custsvc@pjm.com) will be forwarded to the Planning Department and also compiled for Board consideration.
PJM is targeting Board of Managers’ approval for chosen projects in the first quarter of 2026.
If a proposal is selected and approved, the developer of the project will create a detailed engineering, routing and siting plan; engage local communities in refining its routes; seek approval from state regulatory authorities on the siting of the route and related facilities; and build and maintain the substations and transmission lines included in its proposal.
As part of its competitive planning process, PJM regularly administers “Windows,” or a set period of time for transmission developers to offer solutions to a set of transmission reliability needs published by PJM. These needs are based on standards established by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and future “violations” of these standards.
"Regional transmission solutions benefit all customers in the PJM footprint, and costs are allocated based on this benefit, as directed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission," it said.
Solutions are judged on multiple criteria, including:
- Performance: the ability to meet the identified system needs
- Efficiencies: avoiding redundant investment
- Scalability: robust design able to meet future needs
- Impact: utilizing existing rights-of-way where possible
- Cost: validated by third-party benchmarking metrics
- Risks: factors that might impact cost and deadlines
