PJM Board Approves $11.8 Billion Transmission Expansion to Address Load Growth and Reliability Risks

PJM Board of Managers on Feb. 12 approved a portfolio of transmission projects designed to strengthen electric grid reliability across its multi-state service territory, as part of the 2025 Regional Transmission Expansion Plan Window 1. The plan targets’ reliability needs in eastern, southern, and western portions of the footprint and reflects rapid shifts in electricity demand and generation patterns.

The grid operator identified several drivers behind the upgrades, including accelerated load growth across multiple regions, new generation additions in southern Virginia, and the need to support future generation development in western areas. The plan also accounts for delays in New Jersey offshore wind projects and increasing power flows toward eastern portions of the system.

The approved portfolio carries an estimated cost of about $11.8 billion. PJM selected the final projects from 134 proposals submitted by 19 entities, including 57 new transmission builds and 77 upgrades to existing infrastructure. The approved solutions range from facility upgrades to new extra-high-voltage lines rated at 500-kilovolt and 765-kilovolt, as well as grid-enhancing technologies such as advanced conductors. The package also includes the first underground high-voltage direct current line within the PJM system.

PJM transmission planning staff presented system needs and recommended solutions to stakeholders throughout late 2025 and early 2026, supported by reliability and constructability analyses. The selected projects aim to improve system resilience, manage congestion risks, and ensure reliable service as demand rises and the generation mix evolves.

The investment signals continued pressure on regional transmission networks as electrification, data center demand, and resource shifts reshape power flows, reinforcing the role of long-distance infrastructure in maintaining reliability and enabling future generation development.