Advocates argue PJM favors fossil fuels as it is allowed to require more money to sell to its grid

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A decision in Washington on Friday will make it harder for renewable energy suppliers to get on the region’s electric grid.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) granted a request by grid operator PJM to increase how much money a company is required to have to sell energy to the grid. That disadvantages green energy companies, which tend to be newer and smaller.

The FERC decision came despite objections by lawmakers and advocates, who charge that PJM is keeping renewables — such as wind and solar energy — out of the market as the demand for electricity soars.

PJM operates the grid for 13 states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Belle Sherwood of PennEnvironment said its track record for approving new energy sources shows a bias.

“PJM has routinely overlooked or stalled the cheapest, fastest, and safest energy sources to bring online: renewable energy,” she said.

Elowyn Corby of Vote Solar said the result is higher prices for consumers, in addition to environmental effects.

“If PJM connected the clean energy that is waiting in the queue, it could save every customer an average of $500 a year and reduce emissions by 14%,” she said.

PJM said it wants to connect new energy to the grid as quickly as possible, and it doesn’t care whether that’s generated by fossil fuel or renewable energy. However, a spokesman said in a statement to KYW Newsradio that it needs the “reliability” of “traditional” suppliers to keep the grid reliable.