As reported by Hannah Northey at E&E, a federal appeals court ruling could lead to the transmission of "millions of megawatts of wind power from remote areas to population hubs around the Great Lakes." Millions of megawatts represents the electricity equivalent of thousands of atomic reactors.
The court ruled "Michigan cannot, without violating the commerce clause of Article I of the Constitution, discriminate against out-of-state renewable energy."
The court ruling supports Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) policy named Order 1000.
On March 19, 2009, President Barack Obama named Jon Wellinghoff as FERC Chairman. Wellinghoff quickly established the integration of renewable energy sources, including wind, into the electric grid. He famously said early on in his tenure that “We may not need any [new nuclear or coal plants], ever.”
Wellinghoff submitted his resignation to President Obama on May 5, 2013. He is to remain in the post until a new chairman is appointed.