PJM has announced the formation of a new dedicated group focused on working with states to help advance their energy policy initiatives.
The new State Policy Solutions group will pair PJM’s expertise in planning, operations and markets with a firm understanding of state law and regulation to assist states in the implementation and, when requested, the formation of state energy policy.
“Our states are key stakeholders, and we’re committed to partnering with them whenever possible as they contemplate and execute their policy goals,” said PJM President and CEO Manu Asthana.
A Holistic Approach
The new group is designed make use of PJM’s subject matter expertise in a manner that is uniquely tailored to state objectives. Concurrently, if PJM sees efficiencies that can be gained through a regional approach to multiple state endeavors, it can help facilitate that discussion.
“As our states evolve, we have to evolve with them,” said PJM Vice President of State Policy and Member Services, Asim Z. Haque. “PJM has historically provided technical assistance to our states, but this is a more holistic, end-to-end approach where PJM will have a firm understanding of state law, regulation, cases and orders passed to be better equipped to assist our states.”
State Policy Solutions will report to Haque and will be managed by Tim Burdis, who has spent 15 years at the company in both technical and policy roles. “Tim is uniquely equipped to lead this team based upon both the combination of his strong technical capability and his experience in the policy realm,” said Haque.
Finding the Overlap and Innovating Together
State Policy Solutions will focus its efforts in five specific areas as the endeavor launches: offshore wind, resource adequacy, grid modernization, clean energy targets and grid security. These very prevalent state energy policy objectives have some overlap with PJM core business functions.
“PJM will always champion its primary duties of keeping the lights on and running efficient markets,” said Haque. “At the same time, PJM can utilize its expertise in carrying out those functions to assist our states as they advance their policy objectives. This is an opportunity for us to innovate and partner together in an evolved RTO/multi-state dynamic.”
Original source: PJM