Grid operators make interconnection progress, but solar and storage still face long waits

A new report looks at how the seven big regional grid operators that manage the U.S. power grid are handling the backlog of solar, storage, and other power projects waiting to connect. The short version: things are improving on paper, but wait times, costs, and uncertainty are still high. Nationally, about 8,200 projects are stuck in these queues, representing far more power than actually gets built each year. Solar and storage make up most of what's currently being added to the grid, but many projects are also dropping out due to high or unpredictable connection costs, which can run $200 to $300 per kilowatt for solar.

Different regions are trying different fixes. Texas (ERCOT) has the shortest waits, thanks to a "connect first, manage problems later" approach, plus over $30 billion in new high-voltage lines planned. The Southwest Power Pool is moving toward a flat per-project fee meant to trade higher upfront costs for more predictability, with rates expected this fall. The Midwest grid operator (MISO) has a large backlog but is testing a faster, cheaper path for storage and generation that serves nearby buildings rather than the main grid. PJM, covering much of the mid-Atlantic, is processing a huge wave of pent-up requests, including tens of gigawatts of storage and solar.

None of this changes rebates or costs for a home solar or battery system directly. But it matters for how quickly large-scale solar and storage — the kind that firms up the grid and can affect electricity prices and reliability — actually gets built in your region.