NYISO has proposed narrowing the system reliability impact study (SRIS) scopes for 35 generation projects in the queue in order to expedite the interconnection process.
The Transmission Planning Advisory Subcommittee on Nov. 1 unanimously recommended that the Operating Committee approve the proposal at its next meeting, currently scheduled for Nov. 17.
The SRIS evaluates the impact of a project on the existing electric system, including future firm transmission projects. As a growing number of projects request interconnection in New York, the ISO has sought to find ways to move the SRIS process along in a timelier manner without jeopardizing grid or project reliability. (See “Interconnection Queue Streamlining,” NYISO Operating Committee Briefs: Oct. 13, 2022.)
Thinh Nguyen, senior manager of interconnection projects, said that certain evaluations in the projects’ studies were removed because they were identified as being “redundant” or could be “conducted at a later stage.” There are also “informal ways” for developers to provide the additional information related to the study, he said.
Not every SRIS scope was narrowed in the same way. Mark Reeder, representing the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, asked how the ISO determined which evaluations to remove from each of the scopes and why they were not removed from every identified project.
Nguyen responded that they went on a “case-by-case” basis because not every scope had a particular evaluation; some projects’ evaluations were already ongoing; and other scopes already completed certain evaluations.
Howard Fromer, who represents the Bayonne Energy Center, asked whether removing the evaluations from the SRIS scopes required modifications or updates to any ISO procedures, manuals and tariffs, or if this was simply within NYISO’s discretion.
Nguyen responded that no modifications or other changes were needed, with the only requirement being OC approval, as well as transmission owner sign off, as the ISO lacks the “unilateral authority” to make these changes outright.