On October 8, PJM Interconnection accepted its first three fast-track grid connections: 1.66 gigawatts of battery storage from Engie and a 455-megawatt gas-plant uprate from LS Power. All three are expected online by mid-2029.
The fast track is a two-year experiment meant to bypass PJM's long interconnection backlog. On September 29, FERC suspended PJM's separate emergency capacity auction, the Reliability Backstop Procurement, over cost-allocation concerns. Seven of this year's ten fast-track slots remain open, and PJM set a peak load record of 162.6 GW on July 2.
Why it matters
Fast-track approvals add 2.1 GW by 2029, but FERC's suspension of PJM's emergency auction leaves the 6,831 MW shortfall mostly unfilled.
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Key Indicators
2.1 GW
Total approved fast-track capacity
First batch: two Engie storage projects (1.66 GW) plus an LS Power gas uprate (455 MW).
1.66 GW
Battery storage in first batch
Engie's 860-MW project in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, plus 800 MW in Morrow County, Ohio.
455 MW
Gas-fired uprate in first batch
LS Power expands its 810-MW Hunterstown plant in Adams County, Pennsylvania.
7 of 10
2026 fast-track slots still open
PJM accepts up to 10 interconnection requests per calendar year in 2026 and 2027.
250 MW
Minimum qualifying capacity
Projects must offer at least 250 MW of unforced capacity and a state siting-authority commitment.
6,831 MW
Capacity shortfall in 2028/2029 auction
PJM's capacity auction cleared 6,831.3 MW short of the regional reliability requirement. The backstop procurement to fill this gap is suspended to February 28, 2027.
13 events
Latest: October 15th, 2026 · 4 weeks ago
Showing 8 of 13
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2029
First fast-track projects target commercial operation
UpcomingIn-service target
PJM expects the three projects to be online by mid-2029.
May 2027
First interconnection agreements expected signed
UpcomingMilestone
PJM targets Generation Interconnection Agreements within about ten months of submission, pointing to around end of May 2027.
2027
Fast-track process sunsets
UpcomingProgram end
The Expedited Interconnection Track expires at the end of 2027 after accepting up to 10 requests per year in 2026 and 2027.
November 2026
Pennsylvania solicits 2027 fast-track candidates
UpcomingSolicitation
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection requested project information for state sponsorship in the 2027 window, with responses due November 16.
October 2026
PJM agrees to study SoftBank's 10 GW Ohio AI project
LatestProcess
PJM will study the Flagship project, which includes about 10 GW of data center load, 10.2 GW of gas-fired generation and 765-kV transmission lines from AEP Ohio, under its state agreement approach.
EIA reports PJM set peak load record this summer
Data point
PJM peaked at 162.6 GW on July 2, 2026, 1.3% above the pre-2026 record of 160.6 GW, according to EIA data.
PJM status sheet lists the three projects
Disclosure
PJM's Expedited Interconnection Track page confirmed only these three requests, leaving seven of ten 2026 slots open.
PJM accepts first three fast-track projects
Approval
PJM approved 1.66 GW of Engie storage and the 455-MW LS Power gas uprate, with commercial operation targeted for mid-2029.
Energy Department backs FERC on who pays for new PJM power plants
Policy position
The Department of Energy said large electricity users should pay for new power plants on the PJM grid, supporting FERC's recommendation on cost allocation for the suspended backstop procurement.
FERC accepted PJM's emergency capacity auction but suspended it for five months, subject to refund, over cost-allocation concerns. The effective date moved to February 28, 2027.
July 2026
PJM opens fast-track application window
Process launch
The window opened for projects backed by a state's primary siting authority and able to reach commercial operation within three years.
Engie and LS Power file first fast-track requests
Application
Two Engie battery projects in Pennsylvania and Ohio plus the Hunterstown gas uprate, about 2.1 GW total, submitted on opening day.
FERC approved the fast lane for projects of at least 250 MW that can start operating within three years, rejecting protests from Vistra and state regulators.
Scenarios
1
Fast-track pipeline fills as developers rush remaining slots
Likely
Resolves by End of 2027
Discussed by: The Duck Curve notes seven of ten 2026 slots remain open and proposals are taken on a rolling basis.
If the first approvals prove workable, developers of large gas, storage and possibly nuclear capacity submit for the remaining 2026 and all 2027 slots. Data-center demand keeps pressure on PJM to add capacity quickly.
2
Approved projects slip past mid-2029 in-service dates
Possible
Resolves by End of 2029
Discussed by: PJM's own risk framing; the fast-track requires commercial operation within three years of submission.
Engie's two battery sites and the Hunterstown uprate face siting, equipment supply or construction delays. The ten-month interconnection review adds lead time, and battery delivery is a common bottleneck.
3
Fast-track program expires without significant new capacity online
Possible
Resolves by Q2 2028
Discussed by: The program's design ends it at 2027; whether it is extended depends on how much capacity clears.
If few projects complete before the sunset, PJM leans on its pending reliability backstop procurement and surplus interconnection rules instead. FERC would need a new filing to keep the fast lane alive.
4
Backstop suspension delays new capacity past 2027
Possible
Discussed by: EnergyPulse and Morning Overview report FERC suspended the backstop to February 28, 2027 over cost-allocation concerns.
FERC suspended PJM's Reliability Backstop Procurement over cost-allocation concerns, pushing the effective date to February 28, 2027. If the issues aren't resolved, PJM's safety net for the 6,831 MW shortfall stays on hold, increasing pressure on the fast-track process.
Historical Context
2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
1 of 2
2000-2001
California electricity crisis (2000–2001)
A flawed market design, low hydro output and market manipulation sent wholesale prices soaring and triggered rolling blackouts across California in 2000 and 2001. Regulators responded by speeding up siting and approval for new generation rather than relying only on the market.
Then
Hundreds of new gas plants were proposed under expedited permitting. California quickly moved from shortage to surplus within a few years.
Now
The episode reshaped electricity market rules nationwide, moving most regions to capacity markets that pay generators to be available. It also fed lasting distrust of deregulated electricity markets.
Why this matters now
California's crisis shows the pattern of regulators creating fast-track generation pathways during acute supply crunches. PJM's expedited track follows the same logic, though the current squeeze comes from surging demand rather than a market collapse.
2 of 2
2021-2024
The U.S. interconnection queue backlog (2020s)
Grid operators across the U.S. saw interconnection queues balloon as wind, solar and storage developers lined up for grid access. Review backlogs stretched to years, leaving much proposed capacity stuck in limbo while demand forecasts climbed.
Then
Developers faced long waits and rising uncertainty, with many projects withdrawing from queues.
Now
FERC and the regional grid operators launched reforms to speed up the process, including fast-track lanes and surplus-capacity reuse. PJM's expedited track is one such reform.
Why this matters now
PJM's fast-track process is a direct answer to the years-long backlog that made new capacity hard to bring online. The first approvals test whether a short-cut can deliver large resources faster than the main queue.
