The Western Transmission Expansion Coalition’s 10-year outlook has spurred talks about increased coordination between jurisdictions to upgrade or build 12,600 miles of transmission in the West and fueled calls for states to create a task force to streamline permitting and other issues.

The push to develop a resource adequacy program serving non-CAISO members of the ISO’s Extended Day-Ahead Market appears to be gathering momentum, with backers saying they aim to produce a draft design for the program in April.

The West must build or upgrade 12,600 miles of transmission at a cost of about $60 billion to meet the region’s forecast 30% increase in peak demand and other needs by 2035, according to the Western Transmission Expansion Coalition's 10-year outlook.

With 16 binding participants and 58 GW worth of load committed, the Western Power Pool’s Western Resource Adequacy Program aims to build on the momentum in 2026 and prepare for more members.

Future participants in CAISO’s EDAM have already held extensive talks about developing an alternative to the Western Power Pool’s WRAP for non-CAISO EDAM members, NV Energy confirmed in a filing with Nevada utility regulators.

The Western Transmission Expansion Coalition plans to publish its 10-year outlook for Western transmission needs in February 2026 and has begun outlining the 20-year plan, according to Energy Strategies, which is developing the report.

The West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative could lead the charge on developing an alternative to the Western Resource Adequacy Program that would integrate with CAISO’s Extended Day-Ahead Market, according to co-Chair Pam Sporborg.

Citing developments within WPP’s Western Resource Adequacy Program, the Oregon Public Utilities Commission waived penalties for independent power suppliers participating in the state’s alternative RA program.

A new Brattle Group study examined the impact on planning reserve margins of an alternative Western resource adequacy program that includes expected participants in CAISO’s Extended Day-Ahead Market.

The Bonneville Power Administration has resumed hiring after workforce reductions and a federal hiring freeze earlier in 2025.