PJM began accepting applications on July 31 for the Expedited Interconnection Track, a temporary process for large generation projects that already have a commitment from a state siting authority and can start operating within three years. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission accepted the track on June 9.
Through the track, PJM will consider up to 10 interconnection requests per calendar year in 2026 and 2027 for large new or uprated capacity resources. PJM has described the process as a way to address a pressing need for more capacity in the region.
What the expedited track requires
To qualify, a project needs a commitment from a relevant state authority to help expedite siting. PJM says that step is one of the hurdles many projects face after they have already received permission to connect to the grid. A qualifying project must also offer at least 250 MW of unforced capacity, the amount credited for reliability purposes. PJM expects qualifying projects to execute a Generation Interconnection Agreement within 10 months of submission.
How many projects can qualify
Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis until PJM reaches the 10-project limit for that calendar year, with the cap applying separately in 2026 and 2027. The Expedited Interconnection Track sunsets at the end of 2027.
Part of a broader capacity push
The track is one piece of a wider effort to address supply and demand pressure on the power grid in the PJM region, where electricity demand has grown sharply, driven in large part by data centers and other so-called "Large Load" customers. PJM's Board of Managers laid out the elements of that effort, called the Critical Issue Fast Path process, in a Jan. 16 letter.
The other elements include a Reliability Backstop Procurement paired with bilateral transaction facilitation, filed with FERC on July 31, meant to backfill a recent auction shortfall and cover needs identified in PJM's long-term load forecast. A separate mechanism, the Interim Resource Adequacy Service, lets Large Loads connect to the grid without bringing their own new generation capacity, though they must cut their load or shift to on-site backup generation under specific, limited circumstances. PJM is also working on improvements to its long-term load forecast and a review of its wholesale and capacity market design, informed by its "Powering Reliability Through Market Design" white paper.
PJM's Board of Managers set out its decision on how to pursue the backstop procurement and the interim adequacy service in a July 27 letter.
