Norristown-based PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest electrical grid operator, has hit the pause button on around 1,200 projects, mostly solar power, for two years, writes James Bruggers for the Inside Climate News.

The company has greenlit a new process for adding power plants to the transmission system that it manages that includes a two-year hold on reviewing and potentially approving proposals that are part of a controversial backlog.

The plan is the result of work done by PJM and its stakeholders, including electric utilities, electric transmission owners, state and consumer interests, and solar and wind developers, over the past year.

“These changes represent a landmark accomplishment for PJM stakeholders and staff that establishes a better process to handle the unprecedented influx of generation interconnection requests and is critical to clearing the backlog of projects,” said PJM President and CEO Manu Asthana.

The backlog and now 24-month pause has frustrated many renewable energy developers, however they see the new plan as progress.

“The current situation is preventing clean energy projects from coming online and is unsustainable,” said Kat Burnham, a principal of Advanced Energy Economy. “While the reforms aren’t perfect, the updated process will help mitigate the project backlog.”

Read more about PJM in the Inside Climate News.