Earthjustice and SEIA challenge MISO’s ancillary services restriction

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Allowing renewable energy sources to provide ancillary services could help lower the overall system costs. Image: National Grid.

Non-profit environmental law organisation Earthjustice has filed a complaint with the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) challenging a rule that prevents renewables from providing ancillary services in MISO territory.

On behalf of US trade association the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Earthjustice has challenged the US Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) about its explicit prohibition of solar, wind and battery hybrid resources from providing ancillary services.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

MISO, which manages the transmission of high-voltage electricity across 15 US states in the Midwest and South and the Canadian province of Manitoba, is the only FERC jurisdictional grid operator to implement such a prohibition which dates back to 2011. The prohibition was meant to be temporary but was never reconsidered again, according to SEIA.

As ancillary services are critical components that ensure the stability and reliability of the electric grid, allowing renewable energy sources to provide ancillary services could help lower the overall system costs.

This would in itself make the grid more reliable and resilient to extreme weather and climate disasters, which in the past years have pushed homeowners in Texas to increase their energy independence with rooftop solar and battery storage.

“Regional transmission authorities should not restrict the services that renewables can provide,” said Aaron Stemplewicz, Earthjustice attorney, adding: “FERC must order MISO to reform the current tariff provisions and business practices manual to allow wind and solar resources to participate fully and equitably in MISO’s wholesale market.”

Moreover, MISO plans to file a request with FERC to remove ramp capability – which gives a power system the ability to quickly increase or decrease its output – eligibility for renewable resources as well.

“Earthjustice will also challenge any attempts to strip wind, solar and battery hybrid resources from providing ramp capability. Any backsliding will be rigorously challenged with regard to the eligibility of renewable resources to provide all the services they are capable of providing,” added Stemplewicz.

PV Tech has contacted MISO for comment and will update this article when a response is received.

Read Next

July 4, 2025
The US House of Representatives has passed the final version of the reconciliation bill that is now going to US President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature before its passing.
June 30, 2025
Voting on the US tax reconciliation bill is expected to begin in the Senate today, following a draft published on Friday that hit clean energy tax credits hard.
June 9, 2025
Growing political headwinds threaten to dent US solar manufacturing and project deployment, despite a strong start to 2025.
June 6, 2025
Australia’s Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has called on Australia’s climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, to “urgently intervene” on a rule change that could threaten to derail the uptake of rooftop solar PV.
June 4, 2025
The passage of the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' could put 330,000 clean energy jobs at risk, and threaten 331 factories with cancellation.
May 20, 2025
Changes to tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) could “jeopardise” nearly 300 US solar and energy storage manufacturing facilities, according to trade body the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK