Four companies vying for a contract to address stability problems at Artificial Island squared off in a tense TEAC meeting before an unexpected crowd.

PJM’s most recent competitive window for transmission projects attracted 63 proposals from 12 entities, the majority of them transmission owner upgrades.

Transmission developers will have to include a $30,000 check with future “greenfield” proposals under a new rule approved by the PJM MRC last week.

The D.C. Circuit rejected challenges to FERC’s landmark Order 1000, saying the commission had the authority to open transmission development to competition.

PJM received 106 proposals to fix about 50 reliability problems in the first Regional Transmission Expansion Plan Order 1000 window for 2014.

Facing a barrage of criticism from spurned Artificial Island bidders, state officials and others, PJM’s Board of Managers has delayed action on a recommendation that it select Public Service Electric & Gas to fix the Artificial Island stability problem. Instead, the board will allow PSE&G and other finalists to “supplement” their proposals in response to LS Power’s offer to cap its project cost at $171 million.

PJM says its FERC Order 1000-compliant hybrid cost allocation for regional transmission projects won't be in jeopardy following a federal appellate court ruling last week.

PJM planners today recommended PSE&G be awarded the contract to fix the Artificial Island stability problem with a new 500kV line at a cost of about $300 million.

Sea turtles, sturgeon, wetlands and shipping accidents — transmission developers seeking the contract to fix the Artificial Island stability problem invoked all of them and more last week in arguments against their competitors.

Stakeholders last week approved new rules designed to ease the way for public policy transmission projects, but Maryland regulators said they may be irrelevant because of parallel rules proposed by PJM Transmission Owners.