Macro Grid Initiative

?? New op-ed by former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Neil Chatterjee on transmission & artificial intelligence ?? Published today in Utility Dive, Chatterjee explains why expanding America's transmission network is critical for competing with China in the AI race. He urges the deployment of advanced transmission technologies to help meet growing demand stemming from AI and data center development in the near term, "while efficient, high-voltage regional and interregional transmission lines are built to support longer-term growth." "An America First AI agenda will require every available transmission technology to pull off. Without an expanded transmission system, the U.S. will cede its leadership in the AI race." Read the full piece: https://lnkd.in/eiAb__Ug

?? ICYMI: Recent op-ed on transmission in Crain's Chicago Business ? Citizens Utility Board (Illinois) Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz penned a great piece explaining how an upgraded and expanded transmission system would reduce costs, increase reliability, and provide long-term savings for ratepayers in Illinois. ? Recognizing similarities between road and grid congestion, Sarah highlighted how both require efficient and adequate routes for cars and electricity to flow freely and help avoid costly delays. The piece also showcases six transmission projects slated for Illinois regulators' consideration, which would deliver at least 2.6 times more benefits compared to costs.? ? "We need to build a stronger highway system for our electricity, one that can better handle future challenges," Sarah wrote. ? Read the full op-ed here ?? https://lnkd.in/gC7dMJVx

Today we released a new technical report from Electric Power Engineers, commissioned in partnership with the WATT Coalition, outlining commercially available Grid-Enhancing Technologies that can help meet rising electricity demand in the near term.? Thank you to Elise Caplan, Billy Yancey, Xiao Li, Manish Chaturvedi, Rodica Donaldson, Tom Cleaver, and Ted Bloch-Rubin for a great discussion. Learn more by reading the full report. ?? https://lnkd.in/euDDt_6Y

Join the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) TODAY at 1 p.m. ET for the release of a new technical report from Electric Power Engineers, commissioned in partnership with the WATT Coalition, outlining commercially available Grid-Enhancing Technologies that can help meet rising electricity demand in the near term. Register here ?? https://lnkd.in/eWmrFCUi

ClearPath CEO Jeremy Harrell testified during the recent?U.S.?Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on improving federal environmental review and permitting processes. "We need to build out more wires, and that's not just about renewables. The scale of rising demand and the amount of new generation we're going to have to build...we're going to need to connect to a lot of new resources," Harrell said. Harrell's comments?reflect that?achieving American energy dominance will require an "all of the above" approach, including?building the transmission lines needed to support?a growing economy. Hear his full remarks???

Join the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) on Monday, Feb. 24 from 1-2 p.m. ET for the release of a new technical report from Electric Power Engineers (EPE), in partnership with the WATT Coalition, outlining three commercially available Grid-Enhancing Technologies that can help meet rising electricity demand. Featuring experts to discuss: ? Billy Yancey, EPE ? Xiao Li, NewGrid ? Manish Chaturvedi, HASI ? Rodica Donaldson, EDF Renewables North America ? Tom Cleaver, Heimdall Power ? Ted Bloch-Rubin, Smart Wires Inc. Register to join us ?? https://lnkd.in/gexeSpve

? Webinar Feb. 24 ? Join the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) for a webinar featuring a new technical report by Electric Power Engineers (EPE) on three Grid-Enhancing Technologies. ACORE, in partnership with the WATT Coalition, commissioned the report to provide detailed guidelines on how Dynamic Line Ratings, Advanced Power Flow Control, and Transmission Topology Optimization can be integrated in grid planning and operations, enabling both the system and its customers to reap the benefits of early adoption and enhanced functionality. Register here ?? https://lnkd.in/gexeSpve

Love to see improved interregional transmission planning! Check out comments from the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) supporting MISO and SPP's request to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a waiver of certain requirements in their Joint Operating Agreement to conduct a more comprehensive interregional planning study ?? Agreeing that the plan will help identify interregional transmission projects benefiting both regions, ACORE added that expanding the benefits analysis beyond the avoided cost of regional projects "will allow the RTOs to evaluate a broader scope of interregional transmission benefits, including the significant capital cost savings from avoided generation construction and improved reliability during extreme weather events." ACORE especially encourages these transmission provider-initiated improvements, given that FERC has not taken any meaningful action to improve interregional transmission planning in more than two years. Additionally, while the amended regional transmission planning and cost allocation rule, Order 1920-A, requires multiple-scenario, long-range transmission planning and the analysis of seven specific benefits in the selection of transmission solutions, several grid operators are seeking compliance extensions. "Given these developments, ACORE strongly recommends that the Commission support steps taken by transmission providers to implement the transmission planning practices established in Order No. 1920 and apply such best practices to interregional transmission...Actions such as those described in the MISO and SPP Waiver Request can provide models for other regions and will further add to the body of data on the benefits of interregional transmission." Full comments here ?? https://lnkd.in/eFgrNnBP

?? PJM recently released its 2025 Long-Term Load Forecast Report ?? Notably, the Mid-Atlantic grid operator is forecasting peak summer demand to jump by 38% in 2035 from last year’s high. Fueled by the rise of AI and construction of new data centers, this projected increase is more than double the peak demand record on the New England grid, per Bloomberg. The Trump administration recognizes the importance of remaining competitive in the AI race for national security and economic interests, but doing so will require a massive increase in power generation. With continued AI innovation, the U.S. must invest in upgrading and expanding the transmission system to meet this moment. Check out Bloomberg's coverage and PJM's report ?? ?? https://lnkd.in/eQKGvWaj ?? https://lnkd.in/eGKR_wsa

Texas’ main grid operator, ERCOT, is predicting power demand will nearly double by 2030 as a result of dozens of data centers being planned in the state. With the continued rise of AI, these data centers are necessary to help the U.S. stay technologically competitive on the world stage. However, such a significant increase in energy usage will require an upgraded and expanded transmission network to ensure ERCOT can meet the demand. "A new era of transmission system planning is necessary to manage the large amount of prospective load," ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas said, according to The Texas Tribune. Texas regulators will consider a plan to build 765-kV transmission lines, a proposal that would require thousands of miles of high-voltage transmission lines to be constructed through 2030. Notably, building a 765-kV transmission “backbone” in Texas would cost only 4% more than expanding the existing 345-kV system to enable this load growth,?according to a January?analysis?by ERCOT. Learn more about Texas' transmission proposals via Utility Dive: https://lnkd.in/eVMr8eUV And load growth in the state via The Texas Tribune: https://lnkd.in/ewifqZnm