The Best Method to Track Power Generation and Transmission Builds

If you’re an asset developer, you need the most up-to-date interconnection queue data to navigate changes to the generation and transmission landscape near your proposed power projects. Understanding which plants and transmission lines are coming online – as well as retiring – in the vicinity of your project is key. Yes Energy®’s New Build Dataset tracks upcoming power generation, transmission, and geographic load (data centers, bitcoin) projects in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico for that purpose. 

We track key power market data for projects, including location, project type, ownership information, status, permitting, plant/line characteristics, equipment information, and related news. We then compile the data so you can understand surrounding plants and lines and evaluate the feasibility of your project accordingly.

Yes Energy’s New Builds Dataset pulls this information from over 2,000 sources, including independent system operator (ISO) interconnection queues, investor presentations, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and state reports, Public Utility Commission filings, and company websites and financials so you can ensure you’re working with the most accurate and up-to-date information. 

The Impact of Increasing COD Delays

In the US, delays in developing new capacity and connecting to the power grid have more than doubled. According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), projects built in 2008 spent two years waiting for grid approval while projects built in 2022 spent approximately five years from interconnection requests to commercial operations date (COD).

Rand, Joseph et al. 2023."Queued Up: Characteristics of Power Plants Seeking Transmission Interconnection As of the End of 2022:” page 31. https://emp.lbl.gov/sites/default/files/queued_up_2022_04-06-2023.pdf

Furthermore, delays vary by region. In the chart below, we see that PJM and ERCOT have moved more quickly for new builds while the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) has lagged behind the rest of the ISOs. 

Rand, Joseph et al. 2023." Queued Up: Characteristics of Power Plants Seeking Transmission Interconnection As of the End of 2022:” page 30. 

Although ERCOT is commonly understood to build more quickly than CAISO, being able to track associated data provides a deeper layer of insight for asset developers and managers looking to make more informed decisions. 

As part of their planning, asset developers and investors can now use our New Build Dataset to track project timelines. 

Tracking Project Timelines for New Entrants 

In the following example, we use Yes Energy’s New Build Dataset to track delays with Goodnight Wind Energy, a wind turbine project in ERCOT. 

Located in Armstrong County, Texas, the Goodnight Wind Energy Project is a 500 MW community wind farm on 60,000 acres originally planned for development in two stages. The project was initially owned by FGE Power, Austin-based developers of large-scale renewable energy projects. 

Using the New Build Dataset, we can see that Goodnight’s initial system impact study was completed on September 19, 2012. Six months later, they began the facility studies, while the Interconnection Service Agreements (IA) were executed March 7, 2018.

If we want to look at Goodnight’s project-level data, we can do so below. In 2022, we see two projected updates to Goodnight’s COD. We also see that FGE sold the Goodnight Wind project to Omega Energia. The New Build dataset also allows us to track project status, permitting history, and any related news. 

Goodnight Wind Project History

• November 2023: Updated ISD per ERCOT
• June 2023: Updated ISD per April 2023 EIA
• February 2023: Under construction per December 2022 EIA
• November 2022: Per ERCOT's September 2022 report, project moved from inactive to planned
• October 2022: Per ERCOT's August 2022 report, project moved to inactive
• October 2022: ISD updates per EIA August 2022 sheet
• July 2022: Added project news, changed ownership 
• July 2022: Per ERCOT's June 2022 report, projected COD changed to 12-30-2023, MW size changed (originally 506.6MW)
• January 2022: Per ERCOT's December 2021 report, projected COD changed to 06-01-2023
• January 2022: Under construction per EIA
• September 2021: Per ERCOT's August 2021 report, projected COD changed to 02-15-2023
• June 2021: Per ERCOT's May 2021 report, project moved from inactive to planned, MW size changed
• August 2020: Project now designated inactive by ERCOT or the developer
• August 2019: ERCOT now reports December 2020
• February 2019: Project is still alive and projected completion at 2019 on ERCOT GIS report dated December 31. SS Completed, FIS Completed, IA so it seems plausible that it's under construction, but there is no proof in searching. Move in service to 2020.
• September 2018: Project still alive but not active in the news; it got a possible financial backer in February, leaving at August 2019 as per latest ERCOT queue docs 
• September 2017: Changed ownership, broke into two phases as per these docs 
• September 2016: Added ERCOT interconnection ID, added ISD as per queue, seems to be making progress
• July 2016: No mention found anywhere in the past year, no status can be inferred
• March 2016: Moving ISD to 2018, EIA is showing the project is under construction, but that could not be verified. Out of cycle update in July 2016. 
• January 2016: No recent news of info found, moving ISD from December 2015 to December 2016
• November 2014: Changed ISD to December 2015 as per EIA Electric Power Monthly with Data for July 2014, Table 6.5

An asset developer planning on building in the area would be able to use this information to track project timelines and delays, then update accordingly.

For projects that were further along, we would also be able to use the New Build Dataset information to track plant and line characteristics, equipment information, and power purchase agreements (PPAs). 

How the New Build Dataset Can Support You

If you’re looking for the most up-to-date information around the trajectory of strategic plants and transmission lines, Yes Energy’s New Build Dataset tracks key data you’ll need, including location, project type, ownership information, status, permitting, plant/line characteristics, equipment information, and related news. 

To learn how Yes Energy’s New Build Dataset can support your efforts, watch our on-demand webinar.