Backers of the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative say they want to move quickly on first part of their proposed plan to shift CAISO’s governance to an independent entity.

Reps from two groups that blocked past efforts to “regionalize” CAISO predict success for an upcoming campaign to change California law to allow the ISO to participate in an independent RTO.

The West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative applied for the money in January in response to a DOE Funding Opportunity Announcement, seeking two tranches of $400,000 each to be disbursed over two years to help support the effort build an independent Western RTO.

Backers of an initiative to create an independent Western RTO that builds on CAISO’s markets have floated a plan to untangle the snag that’s hung up past efforts to “regionalize” the ISO: a lack of independent governance.

The West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative is advancing on its $570,000 funding target. And its members also are wading deeper into one of the key subjects it was conceived to address: CAISO's governance.

The change of heart comes as participants in the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative work to build the framework for an independent RTO.

Backers of an effort to create the framework for an independent Western RTO know how much money they’ll need to get things off the ground, and they’re seeking funders.