In this episode of Watt Matters, Ana speaks with Rob Gramlich, founder of Grid Strategies and a leading voice on U.S. transmission policy, market design, and interconnection reform. With decades of experience across government and industry—including time at Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)—Rob unpacks the structural challenges shaping the next phase of solar and storage deployment.
The conversation explores why transmission constraints and interconnection delays have become critical bottlenecks, how market design is evolving in response to large-scale renewables, and what policy reforms could unlock faster deployment. From permitting reform to capacity valuation and the growing role of storage, this episode highlights the shift from simply building clean energy to integrating and valuing it effectively within the grid.
Takeaways
- Interconnection delays are driven by outdated, serial study processes and limited transmission capacity
- Queue backlogs are self-reinforcing, with developers submitting multiple applications to manage uncertainty
- Transmission expansion is the most effective long-term solution to reduce interconnection costs and delays
- Market saturation is reducing solar’s marginal value, particularly during midday hours
- Battery storage is reshaping price dynamics and unlocking new value streams
- Capacity value for solar declines as penetration increases, impacting project economics
- Policy reform, especially around permitting, could significantly accelerate deployment timelines
- Long-term PPAs remain critical for revenue certainty in volatile wholesale markets
- Market design still reflects legacy fossil-based systems and needs adaptation for renewables
- Access to broader procurement mechanisms could unlock more stable demand for clean energy
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Rob Gramlich’s background
02:00 Why transmission and interconnection became critical bottlenecks
05:00 How interconnection works and where it breaks down
09:00 Regional reforms and why they are not enough
12:00 Impact of delays on project economics and technology choices
15:00 Permitting reform and policy outlook in Washington
20:00 The role and independence of FERC
24:00 How markets value solar and the “duck curve” challenge
28:00 Capacity value, derating, and saturation effects
32:00 Market design evolution and role of storage
36:00 Future policy scenarios and tax credits
39:00 Structural changes needed to unlock solar growth
42:00 Rethinking electricity markets for a renewable future
To learn more about building the future of large-scale solar and how PVcase can help, head to www.pvcase.com
Watt Matters by PVcase
At PVcase, we’re on a mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.
That’s why we created the Watt Matters podcast - a must-listen series for developers, engineers, analysts, and decision makers shaping the future of large-scale solar.
Each episode tackles the tough realities behind why so many solar projects stall - and what we can do to fix it.
We bring together industry leaders to share strategic insights, practical tools, and real-world experiences.
Learn more at https://www.pvcase.com/