ATC’s role in delivering clean energy to our communities
American Transmission Co.’s transmission system transports electricity from where it’s generated to where it’s needed. (Watch this video to learn how we do it.) As the operator of the area electric transmission grid, we are committed to connecting communities with a sustainable energy future and have an important role to play when it comes to delivering clean energy such as wind and solar across our service area.
When a developer looks to build a new electricity generator and sell the power through the wholesale electricity market to energy consumers, they apply to an organization that administers wholesale electricity markets – in our service area that’s the Midcontinent Independent System Operator. The generator projects are essentially waiting in line, the MISO Generator Interconnection Queue, as they move through various stages of studies and approval. If all goes well, the generator developer works with ATC to connect the new generation to the area electric transmission system.
Requests to connect renewable energy sources to ATC’s electric transmission system are at an all-time high and are expected to continue to increase. In 2016, queued generation projects looking to connect to ATC’s system included 100 MW of solar energy and 196 MW of wind energy. In just four years, those numbers have increased substantially to 8,276 MW of solar and 1,555 MW of wind energy.
The transition to sustainable energy is occurring rapidly. States and utilities are setting ambitious renewable energy and carbon reduction goals. As the electric industry moves toward greater use of sustainable energy, ATC is committed to connecting that energy to the communities we serve.
