Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are available throughout the wide area of the Western United States. The major demand for power, however, is found in the densely populated areas of the Midwest and the Atlantic Coast. This geographical division has created a significant problem: the West produces energy, but the East uses it.

The emergence of large-scale wind turbines has been a major changer since the 1980s. However, the need for adequate transmission infrastructure has been a source of ongoing dissatisfaction for both energy generators and planners. In an ideal world, new power lines would cross the country, effectively bringing clean energy to East Coast consumers.

Transmission of energy from the West to the East is more than just an interest for renewable energy enthusiasts and the federal government. It is critical for Western power utilities. The Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, a rural electric cooperative led by the charismatic CEO Duane Highley, is one such group that is strongly involved in this idea. Highley is different from your usual utility executive; he is a passionate outdoorsman and individualist who enjoys activities such as motorcycle riding, hunting, fishing, music, and community involvement.

A Positive Development: Joining the SPP

The good news is that Tri-State and a number of other Western utilities have joined the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), a regional transmission organization. The goal of this collaborative initiative, which is expected to begin in 2026, is to improve reliability and affordability by enabling the transport of clean energy to the East. Initially, seven Western utilities will join the SPP, gaining numerous benefits, such as the ability to sell surplus electricity to a larger market. More Western utilities are expected to join this project in the future.

According to Lanny Nickell, the SPP's executive vice president and chief operational officer, the SPP is a one-of-a-kind entity. It is the sole entity that is linked to both the Eastern and Western grids, which together form the national electricity system.

Western utilities can benefit from the SPP's extensive geographical reach by joining the program. That not only gives consumers in the East access to day-ahead pricing but also to standardized reserve margins, which improve dependability and resilience while maintaining a consistent supply of clean energy.

Contrary to popular assumption, the United States has three distinct electric grids: Eastern, Western, and ERCOT (a separate organization in Texas). While the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission oversees the Eastern and Western grids, Texas has elected to operate independently of federal regulation.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Order 2000 in 1999, urging utilities to form Regional Transmission Organizations or Independent System Operators. The SPP's integrated marketplace, which debuted in 2014, acts as a critical link between the Eastern and Western grids. This strategic stance provides multiple benefits to utilities and their consumers, making it an appealing alternative for forward-thinking CEOs like Duane Highley.

Highley's advocacy for more efficient markets, improved transmission lines, and reduced reliance on coal led him to advocate for the formation or membership in a Regional Transmission Organization. Following thorough examination, the SPP emerged as the preferable option due to its strong member governance, efficient markets, and capacity to shift power as needed, particularly from West to East. This directional advantage is crucial, considering the time-of-day differences between the West and the East, where the sun continues to shine even after it sets, resulting in a surplus of power that supports peak demand during sunset.

Although joining the SPP does not solve the problem of west-to-east transmission fully, it is a huge step forward. The need for new transmission lines persists, but the combined efforts of organizations such as Tri-State and the SPP are laying the way for a future in which renewable energy may flow freely without being hampered by logistical restrictions. “You take what you can get and keep campaigning,” says Duane Highley, highlighting the perseverance required to establish a fully linked and sustainable energy future for the United States.

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