Republican Mark Christie opposed the rule, dismissing it as a gift to solar and wind power operators. Many power companies and Republican-led states don't want to spend money on new transmission lines or upgrades for renewable energy, creating conflicts with Democratic states that have ambitious clean-energy goals. The rule is intended to streamline how power lines are sited and how costs are shared between states. It could accelerate construction of new transmission lines for wind, solar and other renewable power and add huge amounts of clean energy to the grid. The new rule "will improve regional transmission planning, break down barriers to grid buildout and support the delivery of more affordable and reliable power,″ Zaidi said.

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Persons: Joe Biden's, Willie Phillips, Allison Clements, Republican Mark Christie, Phillips, Christie, ″, Biden, Ali Zaidi, ″ Zaidi, Clements, Heather O'Neill, Chuck Schumer, Schumer Organizations: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Democratic, Republican, Energy Department, FERC, Advanced Energy Locations: Washington, U.S