Technical Assistance on Inclusive Transmission Planning for Transmission Planners  

The goal of the Technical Assistance (TA) program is to assist transmission planners in incorporating energy equity as an objective in their planning. The TA will be targeted to transmission planners including Regional Transmission Operators (RTOs), Independent System Operators (ISOs), Power Market Administrators (PMAs), and utilities. The ITP TA will be delivered through a two-tiered approach—Tier I: Capacity Building and Tier II: Advanced Capacity Building. In Tier I, participants will learn how to better integrate energy equity in transmission planning through consultation, presentations, workshops and webinars, and other relevant resources. Tier II is designed to offer an advanced technical assistance program on energy equity in transmission planning through deep-dive analysis, modeling, and analytical support (e.g., framework development, proof of concept, etc.).  

PNNL intends to fund selected TA applications received from RTOs, ISOs, PMAs, and utilities. The TA program will support a broad set of topics on energy equity that transmission planners could consider and implement in the transmission planning process. Examples of possible areas where transmission planners may need technical assistance are provided below; however, there is no constraint on what the applicant transmission planners may wish to propose or what GDO/PNNL will consider:  

Tier I: Capacity Building

Tier I topics are intended to increase the functional capacity of TA partners through short-term engagements that educate, inform, or otherwise enable energy equity in transmission planning. Representative Tier I topics are:  

Education and Outreach: 

• Describing the pillars of energy equity and their application in transmission planning. 
• Incorporating energy equity considerations into planning processes. 
• Guiding, recommending, developing, and/or reviewing energy equity integration frameworks and plans. 

Public Participation: 

• Examining existing public participation and community (Tribal and non-Tribal) engagement processes to identify areas for improvement for promoting inclusive and equitable outcomes. 
• Developing public participation best practices that increase energy equity in transmission planning. 

Process Review and Assessment: 

• Developing and/or reviewing processes to baseline current transmission planning processes relative to energy equity. 
• Assessing transmission project needs or drivers (reliability, economics, public policy, and multi-value) for alignment with improving energy equity. 
• Assessing customer affordability impacts associated with transmission cost allocation. 

Tier II: Advanced Capacity Building

Tier II topics are intended to demonstrate the implementation of energy equity measures with TA partners through metrics development, modeling, and analytics. Representative Tier II topics are: 

Energy Equity Metrics:

• Developing equity metrics or measurement approaches relevant to transmission planning.
• Conducting baseline equity analysis to benchmark transmission system impacts on communities and customers.
• Examining the relationship between traditional transmission planning metrics (e.g., reliability, etc.) and equity metrics to identify pathways for integrating equity in planning scenarios. 

Power System Modeling and Analysis:

• Developing equity-baselining framework and performing relevant power system modeling analysis.
• Conducting equity-informed scenario analysis to determine generation mix and capacity expansion based on policy, demand, and resilience needs. 
• Developing alternative solution scenarios and associated energy equity outcomes.

Transmission Economics:

• Evaluating customer impacts by cost allocation mechanisms. 
• Developing equitable cost allocation and cost recovery strategies. 

Technical assistance can be provided to transmission planners for 10–11 months, depending on the application request. If RTOs, ISOs, utilities, and PMAs are interested in applying for technical assistance in more than one area, a separate application should be submitted for each unrelated area of interest (e.g., Tier I public participation, Tier II energy equity metrics). Multiple applications for each Tier will not guarantee selection. 

Application Timeline

The timeline for the 2024 ITP TA application and selection process is:

• Application opens: August 15, 2024
• Application closes: October 31, 2024
• Application review period: November 2024
• TA selection notification: December 1, 2024
• Technical assistance duration: Up to 11 months (January 2025 – November 2025)

Eligibility

Technical assistance is open to transmission planners in the United States and its territories. Transmission Planners include applicants from RTOs, ISOs, utilities, and PMAs.

Apply for Technical Assistance

Informational Webinar

On Tuesday September 17th, the project held a webinar to introduce the TA team, describe the TA program, eligibility criteria, and how to apply. Watch the webinar recording below and download the slides.