MISO Advances 15 New Projects Through Accelerated Interconnection Review as Reliability Pressures Mount

Midcontinent Independent System Operator on Dec. 1 announced the second cycle of proposals to be examined under its Expedited Resource Addition Study, or ERAS, process, adding 15 proposed generation projects totaling about 6,100 megawatts across its North, Central and South regions. The projects include solar, wind, natural gas and battery storage resources, with proposed in-service dates between Dec. 1, 2027 and Aug. 6, 2028. The operator intends to accelerate high-priority capacity additions as reliability risks rise across the footprint.

The initiative reflects a shift in how the operator manages near-term reliability concerns. Instead of relying solely on the traditional generator interconnection queue, which has faced significant delays, the program provides a targeted pathway for projects that satisfy a demonstrated local reliability need. Each proposal must show verified site control, complete early engineering work and be capable of entering service within three to six years of application. Interconnection service is restricted to 150 percent of the identified reliability needed within the same local resource zone.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the ERAS proposal in July, authorizing the operator to process up to 15 projects per quarter and capping the program at 68 projects before it sunsets on Aug. 31, 2027. The first cycle included 10 projects representing nearly 5,300 megawatts, out of which three already hold final interconnection agreements, while the remaining seven are scheduled to complete validation in December. To date, 51 proposals totaling close to 30,000 megawatts have been accepted or are under review.

The program strengthens the operator’s ability to add new generation quickly as the region confronts load growth and capacity shortfalls. Officials expect the expanded study volume to shorten development timelines and provide greater certainty for developers seeking to advance priority projects into construction.