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.

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.

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.

The West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative is seeking $800,000 in federal grants to support its administrative and outreach needs as it works to lay the foundation for an independent Western RTO.

Western stakeholders expressed enthusiasm for the West-Wide Governance Pathway Initiative but called for more transparency in developing a regional market.