May 31, 2023 –The study flagged in the US debt-ceiling bill signals a dramatic improvement in the US electric grid, by easing bottlenecks and cutting the cost of traded power.

It shows the US economy is preparing to electrify rather than stick to its fossil-fuel basis.

The bill also allows for speedier approval of projects and fast-tracks a new natural gas pipeline, the Mountain Valley Pipeline project.

The proposed bill will require a study into:

(1) Current total transfer capability, between each pair of neighboring [electricity] transmission planning regions.

(2) A recommendation of prudent additions to total transfer capability between each pair of neighboring transmission planning regions that would demonstrably strengthen reliability within and among such neighboring transmission planning regions.

(3) Recommendations to meet and maintain total transfer capability together with such recommended prudent additions to total transfer capability between each pair of neighboring transmission planning regions.

(b) PUBLICATION.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation shall deliver a study to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which shall publish the study required in subsection (a) in the Federal Register and seek public comments.

CarrZee: Im not sure this below is the latest version of this bill, which will be further debated later today, according to various news reports. It’s dated May 29.

(Clarifies to say fast tracks natgas pipeline project)