Immediate-Need Projects

The PJM Operating Agreement defines an immediate-need reliability project as a reliability need that must be addressed within three years or less from the year PJM identified the existing or projected system limitation. If PJM determines there is sufficient time for a shortened proposal window, PJM will post the violations consistent with the Operating Agreement, Schedule 6, Section 1.5.8(m)(2).

For all other immediate needs when a proposal window is not feasible, PJM identifies the transmission solution and designates the project to the Transmission Owner in the zone in which the facilities will be located, consistent with the Operating Agreement, Schedule 6, Section 1.5.8(m)(1).

Starting with the 2020 Regional Transmission Expansion Plan, information about immediate-need reliability projects exempted from proposal windows is provided below.

When the below projects are approved for inclusion in the RTEP by the PJM Board, the construction status and additional information will be found on the Project Status & Cost Allocation page.

Project Upgrade ID Project Driver Description Designated Entity for Construction PJM Transmission Owner Zone Anticipated In-Service Date Need-by date of the Immediate-Need Reliability Project PJM Board Approval Date Associated Materials
b3718 b3718.1 Load growth at Data Center Alley area Install one 500/230kV 1440MVA transformer at a new substation called Wishing Star. Cut and extend 500 kV Line #546 (Brambleton-Mosby) and 500 kV Line #590 (Brambleton-Mosby) to the proposed Wishing Star substation. Lines to terminate in a 500 kV breaker and a half configuration. Dominion Dominion 12.19.2025 6.1.2025 10.2.2022

TEAC 7.12.2022 PDF

TEAC 9.6.2022 PDF

TEAC 10.4.2022 PDF

FERC Filings & Orders PDF

FERC Filings & Orders PDF

b3718.2 Load growth at Data Center Alley area Install one 500/230 kV 1440 MVA transformer at a new substation called Mars near Dulles International Airport. Dominion Dominion 12.19.2025 6.1.2025 10.2.2022
b3718.3 Load growth at Data Center Alley area Construct a new 500 kV transmission line for ~ 3.5 miles along with substation upgrades at Wishing Star and Mars. New right-of-way will be needed and will share same structures with the line. New conductor to have a minimum summer normal rating of 4357 MVA. Dominion Dominion 12.19.2025 6.1.2025 10.2.2022
b3718.4 Load growth at Data Center Alley area Reconductor ~0.62 miles of 230 kV line #2214 (Buttermilk-Roundtable) to achieve a summer rating of 1574 MVA. Dominion Dominion 12.19.2025 6.1.2025 10.2.2022
b3718.5 Load growth at Data Center Alley area Reconductor ~1.52 miles of 230 kV line #2031 (Enterprise-Greenway-Roundtable) to achieve a summer rating of 1574 MVA. Dominion Dominion 12.19.2025 6.1.2025 10.2.2022
b3718.6 Load growth at Data Center Alley area Reconductor ~0.64 miles of 230 kV line #2186 (Enterprise-Shellhorn) to achieve a summer rating of 1574 MVA. Dominion Dominion 12.19.2025 6.1.2025 10.2.2022
b3718.7 Load growth at Data Center Alley area Reconductor ~2.17 miles of 230 kV line #2188 (Lockridge-Greenway-Shellhorn) to achieve a summer rating of 1574 MVA. Dominion Dominion 12.19.2025 6.1.2025 10.2.2022
b3718.8 Load growth at Data Center Alley area Reconductor ~0.84 miles of 230 kV line #2223 (Lockridge-Roundtable) to achieve a summer rating of 1574 MVA. Dominion Dominion 12.19.2025 6.1.2025 10.2.2022
b3718.9 Load growth at Data Center Alley area Reconductor ~3.98 miles of 230 kV line #2218 (Sojourner-Runway-Shellhorn) to achieve a summer rating of 1574 MVA. Dominion Dominion 12.19.2025 6.1.2025 10.2.2022
b3718.10 Load growth at Data Center Alley area Reconductor ~1.61 miles of 230 kV line #9349 (Sojourner-Mars) to achieve a summer rating of 1574 MVA. Dominion Dominion 12.19.2025 6.1.2025 10.2.2022
b3718.11 Load growth at Data Center Alley area Upgrade 4-500 kV breakers (total) to 63kA on either end of 500 kV Line #502 (Loudoun-Mosby). Dominion Dominion 12.19.2025 6.1.2025 10.2.2022
b3718.12 Load growth at Data Center Alley area Upgrade 4-500 kV breakers (total) to 63 kA on either end of 500 kV Line #584 (Loudoun-Mosby). Dominion Dominion 12.19.2025 6.1.2025 10.2.2022
b3718.13 Load growth at Data Center Alley area Cut and loop 230 kV Line #2079 (Sterling Park-Dranesville) into Davis Drive substation and install two GIS 230 kV breakers. Dominion Dominion 12.19.2025 6.1.2025 10.2.2022
b3718.14 Load growth at Data Center Alley area Construct a new 230 kV transmission line for ~3.5 miles along with substation upgrades at Wishing Star and Mars. New right-of-way will be needed and will share same structures with the 500 kV line. New conductor to have a minimum summer normal rating of 1573 MVA. Dominion Dominion 12.19.2025 6.1.2025 10.2.2022
b3246 b3246.1 Load drop violations in the Manassas area Convert 115 kV Line #172 Liberty-Lomar and 115 kV Line #197 Cannon Branch-Lomar to 230 kV to provide a new 230 kV source between Cannon Branch and Liberty. The majority of 115 kV Line #172 Liberty-Lomar and Line #197 Cannon Branch-Lomar is adequate for 230 kV operation. Lines to have a summer rating of 1047 MVA/1047 MVA (SN/SE). Dominion Dominion 12.31.2024 6.1.2023 2.10.2021

TEAC 8.4.2020 PDF

TEAC 10.6.2020 PDF

TEAC 12.1.2021 PDF

TEAC 2.9.2021 PDF

FERC Filings & Orders PDF

FERC Filings & Orders PDF

b3246.2 Load drop violations in the Manassas area Perform substation work for the 115 kV to 230 kV Line conversion at Liberty, Wellington, Godwin, Pioneer, Sandlot and Cannon Branch. Dominion Dominion 12.31.2024 6.1.2023 2.10.2021
b3246.3 Load drop violations in the Manassas area Extend 230kV Line #2011 Cannon Branch – Clifton to Winters Branch by removing the existing Line #2011 termination at Cannon Branch and extending the line to Brickyard creating 230kV Line #2011 Brickyard-Clifton. Extend a new 230kV line between Brickyard and Winters Branch with a summer rating of 1572MVA/1572MVA (SN/SE). Dominion Dominion 12.31.2024 6.1.2023 2.10.2021
b3246.4 Load drop violations in the Manassas area Perform substation work at Cannon Branch, Brickyard and Winters Branch for the 230kV Line #2011 extension. Dominion Dominion 12.31.2024 6.1.2023 2.10.2021
b3246.5 Load drop violations in the Manassas area Replace the Gainesville 230kV 40kA breaker “216192” with a 50kA breaker. Dominion Dominion 12.31.2024 6.1.2023 2.10.2021
b3223 b3223.1 Thermal, voltage and load loss violations in the Northern Neck area Install a 2nd 230kV circuit with a minimum summer emergency rating of 1047 MVA between Lanexa and Northern Neck Substations. The 2nd circuit will utilize the vacant arms on the double-circuit structures that are being installed on the Line #224 (Lanexa-Northern Neck) End-of-Life rebuild project (b3089). Dominion Dominion 2.26.2024 6.1.2023 12.9.2020

TEAC 8.4.2020 PDF

TEAC 9.1.2020 - Immediate Need Reason PDF

TEAC 9.1.2020 PDF

b3223.2 Thermal, voltage and load loss violations in the Northern Neck area Expand the Northern Neck terminal from a 230kV, 4-breaker ring bus to a 6-breaker ring bus. Dominion Dominion 2.26.2024 6.1.2023 12.9.2020
b3223.3 Thermal, voltage and load loss violations in the Northern Neck area Expand the Lanexa terminal from a 6-breaker ring bus to a breaker-and-a-half arrangement. Dominion Dominion 2.26.2024 6.1.2023 12.9.2020