Fixing the grid, with Rob Gramlich

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 Takeaways Interconnection delays are driven by outdated, serial study processes and limited transmission capacity Queue backlogs are self-reinforcing, with developers submitting multiple applications to manage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