Lawmakers From 10 States Call on PJM to Accelerate Renewable Energy Deployment Amid Affordability and Capacity Concerns

Washington, D.C. (September 29, 2025) — Today, over 105 state legislators from 10 states across the PJM Interconnection region released a joint letter urging PJM to take immediate action to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy projects. The letter, organized by the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL), highlights urgent concerns about grid reliability, rising energy costs, and recent federal actions against renewable energy.

The PJM region — America’s largest electricity market, spanning 13 states and the District of Columbia — is facing mounting pressure as electricity demand surges and new energy sources are slow to be connected to the grid. PJM’s current processes and delays have led to thousands of critical energy projects being unable to move forward with construction, contributing to rising costs and reliability issues in the region. The failure to bring more renewable energy online has resulted in more dependence on fossil fuel power plants to meet rising energy demand, resulting in up to a 30% increase in consumer energy costs in the region.

Legislators warn that PJM’s barriers to deploying new renewable energy – currently the most affordable and fastest energy source to deploy – will create continued hardship for millions of residents if not addressed.

“As state legislators, we have an obligation to keep our constituents’ lights on and their electricity bills affordable,” the letter states. “By limiting renewables, both of these aims are jeopardized.”

The sign-on letter outlines five key actions PJM should take immediately:

1. Support for Renewables in Federal Energy Strategies: Legislators urge PJM to use its influence with federal agencies to remove barriers and advocate for renewables as part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy that addresses reliability and affordability.
2. Refile the CIR Transfer Efficiency Proposal with FERC: PJM is called on to revise and refile its CIR Transfer Efficiency Proposal with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) by October. This would enable seamless replacement of 3.7 GW of retiring fossil fuel plants through 2027 with new sources like renewables and batteries, avoiding reliability losses and cost spikes for consumers.
3. Comply with FERC Order 2023 and Implement Reforms: Lawmakers request that PJM immediately adopt federal queue reforms, increase staffing, and shorten study timelines to reduce delays and costs for renewable energy projects.
4. Allow Provisional Interconnection Service to Fast-Track Construction: PJM is requested to adopt rules under consideration that would enable “energy only” interconnection to its current queue cycle, enabling faster construction and improving access to federal tax credits for renewables.
5. Collaborate With States to Identify and Resolve Post-Queue Barriers: Legislators call for PJM to share data on timelines and material delays, helping states address rising energy demand and understand the causes of construction backlogs. They also request improved transparency and reporting around transmission upgrades, one of the major drivers of project delays. 

Legislators emphasized that over 20 GW of renewable energy and battery storage within the PJM region are poised to sign interconnection agreements by November 2025, with another 39 GW in advanced stages of development. Without decisive action, many of these projects risk missing out on federal tax credits, further delaying progress and increasing costs for consumers.

“Families across Maryland and the PJM region are feeling the strain of rising energy costs,” said Maryland State Delegate Lorig Charkoudian. “PJM can play a pivotal role in easing this pressure by accelerating the deployment of renewable energy — technologies that are proven, cost-effective, and reliable.”

The letter was spearheaded by Maryland State Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, and the full letter text is available here: ncelenviro.org/app/uploads/2025/09/PJM-Renewables-Sign-On-Letter-92925.pdf

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About NCEL: Created by and for state legislators, the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes over 1,300 environmentally-committed state legislators from all 50 states and both parties. NCEL provides venues and opportunities for lawmakers to share ideas and collaborate on environmental issues.