news

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) today celebrated the announcement by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) of their final proposed transmission planning and cost allocation rule. The rule fulfills the requests made by lawmakers — spearheaded by Tonko and U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) — earlier this year in a letter urging FERC to swiftly finalize a robust transmission rule.

“In order to meet our clean energy goals and support access to reliable, affordable, and clean electricity, we need a strong transmission grid that is up to the task,” Congressman Tonko said. “This strong rule will enable us to fully and wholly leverage the investments delivered through our Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act, all while lowering energy costs for consumers. Thanks to their strong, forward-looking transmission rule, FERC has put us on a path to achieve these goals and open the door to new clean energy opportunities. I’m deeply grateful to Chairman Willie Phillips, Commissioner Allison Clements, and all those at FERC who have put together this strong rule, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Commission to grow our 21^st century economy and secure our clean energy future.”

Improved transmission is critical to supporting affordability, reliability, and clean electricity. Further, the Department of Energy’s National Transmission Needs Study estimated that transmission capacity will need to double in many regions across the nation within the next two decades in order to meet clean energy policy goals.

More than 130 lawmakers in the House and Senate joined Tonko’s letter to FERC. That letter, sent in January, can be found HERE.

###