"The spread of wind and solar power is being held back by fragmented policies on paying for new transmission lines to carry renewable energy, said a group of leading transmission providers in a petition to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Members of the WIRES association called on FERC to establish "on an aggressive schedule" clear, comprehensive national guidelines covering the complex and politically charged issue of allocating costs among consumers for new multi-state transmission lines.

FERC has solicited views of industry, environmental and consumer groups on transmission planning and cost allocation policy, with a filing deadline today, indicating to industry officials that the commission may seek to break new ground on the issue."

Peter Behr reports for ClimateWire in the New York Times November 23, 2009. [2]