The Solution
Our grid is being pushed to its limits, but we have solutions right now to meet the demands of the 21st century BUT not without action from Washington.
To FIX THE GRID, we must:
REFORM.
Bureaucratic red tape spread across various federal and state agencies is blocking our ability to build new grid infrastructure. Getting a new transmission line approved can take decades and cost billions of dollars. To fix our grid, the federal government MUST ACT to reform the broken permitting process – and soon.
Reform steps like giving the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) more authority over the siting of transmission lines – just as it has for natural gas pipelines – would represent a solid step forward for certainty in the permitting process. The same could be said for deadlines for judicial and environmental reviews, all of which can help streamline the permitting process
and federal agencies need more resources to process applications faster. Congress must take action, or our grid won’t be ready for tomorrow.
CONNECT.
The United States’ energy grid is split into separate systems – one covering the majority of Western states and another one covering the Eastern part of the country – with little connection between the two. If we want to strengthen our grid, we need to enact policies that encourage better connections between the regions.
California solar farms can be the energy backbone for Rust Belt manufacturing in times of extreme cold snaps. Northwest hydro power can keep the lights on for Gulf Coast states during Category 3 hurricanes. Midwest nuclear power can power air conditioners in the Southwest amid record heat waves.
Long-distance transmission would allow these regions to share energy during localized disruptions. The United States energy landscape is vast and diverse – let’s use it to everyone’s advantage.
In addition to building better connections, Congress should set Minimum Transfer Requirements for interregional electricity transmission. Just like it did for regional planning and cost allocation, FERC needs to to require Interregional Transmission Planning that focuses on improving grid reliability.
BUILD.
Just as the interstate highway system revolutionized transportation in the 1950s and the railroad construction in the late 19th century boosted economic growth, our nation thrives when we focus on the infrastructure that will drive our economy forward. In the 21st century, our economic success will depend on poles and wires – not concrete and steel – as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and computing all rely on electricity. To stay competitive, Congress must incentivize and support a major upgrade to our power grid.
A key step to achieve that outcome is an investment tax credit for the development of new transmission lines, akin to the incentives for clean energy generation technologies in the Inflation Reduction Act. This tax break would make projects more attractive to investors.
Congress should encourage transmission operators to adopt Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs) and upgrade existing transmission lines with the latest wiring technologies. Boosting capacity in our current grid is an effective way to enhance our existing infrastructure . The Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program is already investing $10.5 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to update and modernize our grid. Congress must continue funding that program.