Puget Sound Energy (PSE) today announced that it has signed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding with North Plains Connector LLC, a wholly owned entity of Grid United, to participate in the development of North Plains Connector, a 420-mile, 3,000 megawatt high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission line.
Under the terms of the MOU, PSE would own 750 megawatts, the largest share of North Plains Connector among the participating utilities.
Grid United will continue to fund the development of North Plains Connector. PSE would invest when project regulatory approvals and permits are in place.
Once completed, the project will establish the first transmission link among the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, the Western Electricity Coordinating Council, and the Southwest Power Pool, providing additional flexibility and resource sharing across multiple western states.
We are excited to play a part in the development of North Plains Connector, which will play an important role in enhancing the reliability and resilience of the western grid,” said Josh Jacobs, PSE Vice President of Clean Energy Strategy and Planning.
“It will be a critical link connecting PSE and its customers to new markets that can provide needed resource diversity to aid in the clean energy transition,” he said.
Interregional transmission facilitates a more resilient grid by increasing the availability of diverse energy sources to help serve demand for electricity during critical periods.
By investing in a bidirectional high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission line, PSE is supporting the development of a more modern and efficient grid that can better integrate renewable energy sources and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“PSE is committed to meeting the rapidly growing energy needs of our customers while also supporting the region’s transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future,” Jacobs added.
2024 has seen significant progress for North Plains Connector. Earlier this year, PSE joined a group of eight utilities as part of the North Plains Interregional Innovation (NPC II) consortium that supported the $700 million GRIP (Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships) grant conditionally awarded to the Montana Department of Commerce by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Most of the Department of Energy’s GRIP grant will support the construction of North Plains Connector, solidifying federal support for the project’s development.
In October, the project took another step forward by entering the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process for federal permitting. The project is on track for an anticipated operational date of 2032.
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