NERC: Electricity Industry Concerns on the Reliability Impacts of Climate Change InitiativesFrom the report Introduction,

The NERC Planning Committee (PC) has identified initiatives currently underway to address climate
change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as among the most important emerging issues facing the eliability of the bulk power system over the coming years.2 Provisions and requirements implemented through state/provincial-level Renewable Portfolio Standards, regional initiatives, and federal and provincial legislation and regulations, have the potential to influence nearly every aspect of electric industry system planning, design and operation.

...

Taken individually, state, provincial, and regional initiatives may not significantly affect bulk power system reliability. However, as more and more state, provincial, and regional initiatives begin to take effect and federal climate change initiatives are considered in the U.S., there is an increasing need to review the collective impact of these initiatives on the bulk power system and identify effective means to help the electric industry meet these climate change initiatives without degrading system reliability.

The objective of this summary report is to document reliability concerns raised by NERC’s stakeholders and identify important objectives that, if met, could help the electric power industry meet the goals of climate change initiatives while maintaining bulk power system reliability. Further, this summary report aims to highlight the potential bulk power system reliability issues associated with the implementation of the climate change initiatives.

Download the full report.