In the near future, I will introduce a resolution which would explore the prospect of Pennsylvania entering into a multi-state compact for permitting energy transmission construction.
 
The increasing demands placed upon our country’s electric grid necessitate substantial upgrades and expansions to ensure the reliable delivery of energy, facilitate the integration of advanced energy sources, and enhance the resilience of extreme weather-related disruptions.  Nevertheless, the permitting process associated with the construction and upgrading of new and existing electric transmission infrastructure has emerged as a notable impediment.
 
To address the challenge, the adoption of multi-state compacts provides a pragmatic and cooperative framework to reduce regulatory burden while benefiting communities.  Such compacts represent agreements among states aimed at harmonizing permitting processes, incentivizing the deployment of Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs), establishing uniform Rights of Way (ROW) guidelines, and fostering competitive bidding to deliver the best prices to ratepayers.  By delivering greater certainty, uniformity, and efficiency for key transmission stakeholders, including Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) like PJM, these compacts could lay the groundwork for the future development of the national grid.
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this resolution to explore the prospect of the Commonwealth entering into multi-state compacts for energy transmission with states having similar interests as ours in preserving and strengthening the grid.