It's Time to Plan an Electric Grid that Serves Our Needs

By Yvonne Cappel-Vickery, AAE's Clean Energy Grid Organizer

Do you ever wonder who is responsible for planning the high voltage transmission grid that provides power across a huge multi-state region including Louisiana? Well that is MISO, the Midcontinent System Operator, and regional transmission organization (RTO) for this whole region - and they will be in New Orleans this month!

MISO is responsible for planning a reliable electric grid across 15 states. We in Louisiana are well aware of how important it is to have a reliable electric grid. Hurricane Ida and more recently, Winter Storm Elliott, were rude reminders about how important reliability is. Louisiana citizens are ready for a reliable electric grid that will keep the lights on, and provide access to renewable energy.

Louisiana is long overdue for a modernized electricity grid. Planning and building the electric grid for the needs of the 21st century will not be an easy task, but engineers and other thought leaders are currently hard at work to plan a more reliable, affordable energy grid. The organization responsible for planning a reliable transmission grid of the future, MISO, will be in New Orleans on March 21-23th! For more background information about what MISO is and how MISO planning impacts your life read our article here.

During this week the Midcontinent System Operator (MISO) will hold their quarterly Board of Directors meeting, where a variety of individuals that have a stake in MISO’s efforts will come together to hear about the organization’s plans, and speak to MISO representatives directly. MISO board members rarely hear from individuals and grassroots organizations outside the formal stakeholder process. However on March 23rd, during the open comment period, there is an excellent opportunity to uplift your and your community’s voices!

​What is Board Week? MISO holds quarterly ‘board weeks’ throughout the year that are free and open to the public. During board week MISO staff present information about the various efforts around grid planning and market operations they are engaged in. Before these meetings end, there are opportunities for the public to make open comments to the board. This is a unique opportunity to talk to Board members about what Louisiana wants from its electric grid. Individuals can comment in person by attending the session at the Westin Hotel in New Orleans* or by virtually attending the meeting via WebEx from 8:30 am - 11 am. 

MISO does not currently have a process to collect comments electronically before the open comment period. The Alliance recognizes that going to a meeting during the middle of work hours or logging into a Webex while you’re at work isn’t very accessible. If you can not attend the meeting in-person or virtually, don’t worry, you can email your comment to Yvonne Cappel-Vickery at yvonne@all4energy.org. Yvonne will relay your comments to the Board of Directors during the open comment period on March 23rd. Share your thoughts with us, and we will ensure those messages are delivered to MISO. 
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*Please note in-person registration has closed, but you can still join virtually by registering through Webex.
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Wondering What to Say to MISO?

Here is an example with some guidance

Introduction - Good morning, my name is ______, I am a Louisiana resident, and I work for (name of organization/company). 

Thank MISO for their work - Thank you for forward-thinking MISO leadership. 

Introduce the issue or question you’d like to ask - Individuals faced extreme utility price volatility over the last year, especially last summer. We know that solar and other renewables offer affordable, reliable energy. Louisiana ratepayers have been through a lot; with high bills and destructive storms, people are losing faith in the grid. Please help restore our confidence in the grid by swiftly providing expert transmission planning so that states like Louisiana can trust the grid's reliability. Why is planning for transmission in Louisiana taking so long? We are ready for a reliable grid that connects us to reliable renewable energy. 

• Tell MISO Board why transmission planning is important to you!

Make it Personal - The Board of Directors comprises regular people like you and me. Make your comment personal. 

• Example: Discuss how grid reliability has impacted you and your community → Power outages and the financial, social, and health impacts these outages have on you and your family.

Speak their language - MISO's mission statement is “to work collaboratively and transparently with our stakeholders to enable the reliable delivery of low-cost energy through efficient, innovative operations and planning.” Use this language to speak to them. 

• Example: The decisions MISO makes impact my future. We would like to see MISO use innovative, transparent policies to develop a grid suitable for the needs of Louisiana in the 21st century. 

Closing - closing statement, summarize your comment and provide contact information if you wish to be in communication. ​

Register for the WebEx

​WHO: MISO Board of Directors - the organization that is charged with ensuring that electricity needs are met and planned for affordably over a multi-state region
WHAT: Board of Directors Quarterly Meeting
WHEN: Thursday March 23, 2023 8:30 am - 11 am
WHERE: The Westin New Orleans, 100 Iberville St & via WebEx

Register for the WebEx

​A Better Way to Get Lowest-Cost, Reliable Energy for Louisiana