PJM approves two ENGIE battery storage projects totaling 1,660 MW under new expedited interconnection process
PJM Interconnection has approved two large battery storage projects from ENGIE IR Holdings LLC as among the first accepted under its new Expedited Interconnection Track. The facilities — an 860-megawatt project in Crawford, Pennsylvania, and an 800-megawatt project in Morrow, Ohio — represent a combined 1,660 megawatts of storage capacity, with both slated to come online in mid-2029.
PJM accepts ENGIE storage projects under expedited track
The two ENGIE facilities are among the first three projects ever accepted under PJM’s Expedited Interconnection Track — a notable milestone for a process that didn’t exist until recently. These approvals mark its earliest real-world test.
ENGIE IR Holdings LLC is the entity behind both projects. The Crawford, Pennsylvania facility comes in at 860 MW, while the Morrow, Ohio project adds another 800 MW. Together, they account for the vast majority of capacity approved under the new track so far.
That two of the first three expedited approvals are storage projects — rather than traditional generation — says something about where the industry is heading.
Both projects are scheduled to begin operations in mid-2029. That timeline is central to the whole point of the expedited process: getting large resources connected faster than the standard queue typically allows.
Why PJM created the expedited interconnection process
Electricity demand across the PJM region has been climbing steadily, and the pressure isn’t letting up. Data centers are a major driver, along with other large commercial and industrial facilities requiring significant, reliable power.
PJM’s standard interconnection queue has struggled to keep pace. Backlogs have built up over the years, leaving developers waiting long stretches before their projects can connect to the grid — a real problem when demand is rising and new capacity is needed sooner rather than later.
The Expedited Interconnection Track was designed specifically to cut through that bottleneck. It targets large generation and storage resources that can move quickly: projects already backed by a primary siting authority and capable of beginning operations within three years of approval. If a project is well-positioned and ready to move, there’s little reason to hold it in a slow-moving queue alongside projects at much earlier stages of development.
What the approvals mean for grid capacity and storage development
Adding 1,660 MW of battery storage to the PJM grid by mid-2029 is a meaningful contribution. PJM covers territory across 13 states and the District of Columbia, making it one of the largest electricity markets in the world — so the scale of these projects fits the region’s scope.
Battery storage has been growing as a tool for grid operators. Approvals like these suggest that large-scale storage is becoming a more central part of how regions like PJM plan to meet rising demand. Storage can absorb excess generation and discharge it when demand peaks, a capability that gets more valuable as the grid evolves.
That two of the first three expedited approvals are storage projects — rather than traditional generation — says something about where the industry is heading. Developers are clearly positioning battery storage as a fast-deployable, grid-ready resource. For ENGIE, getting two projects through early under this process puts the company in a strong position ahead of what could be a competitive window, since the track allows only up to 10 approvals per year.
Scope and timeline of the Expedited Interconnection Track
The Expedited Interconnection Track is explicitly temporary, designed as a short-term measure scheduled to end after 2027. That gives developers roughly two years to pursue approvals under this faster pathway before it closes.
During 2026 and 2027, PJM can approve a maximum of 10 interconnection requests per year through this track. It’s a tight cap. With three projects already accepted — the two ENGIE facilities and one other — the available slots are already starting to fill.
The track represents a meaningful, if limited, departure from PJM’s standard process, which has faced well-documented backlogs, with projects sometimes waiting years for studies and approvals. The expedited track doesn’t replace that system. It runs alongside it, offering a faster lane for projects that meet strict qualifying criteria: backing from a primary siting authority and the ability to come online within three years. That filters out early-stage or speculative projects, keeping the track focused on resources genuinely close to ready.
What this means going forward
To sum it up: PJM has approved two ENGIE battery storage projects — 860 MW in Crawford, Pennsylvania, and 800 MW in Morrow, Ohio — as part of the first wave of acceptances under its new Expedited Interconnection Track. Combined, they represent 1,660 MW of storage capacity expected online by mid-2029.
The expedited process was created in response to growing electricity demand, particularly from data centers, and the chronic backlogs that have slowed PJM Inside Lines‘ standard interconnection queue. Capped at 10 approvals per year in 2026 and 2027, it ends after 2027.
Three projects are approved, the window is still open, and the remaining capacity is finite. Developers with qualifying projects will be watching closely as the remaining slots come into play over the next two years.
Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.
