WATT Coalition

Too early for New Year's resolutions? The U.S. can learn a lot from successful deployments of Grid Enhancing Technologies (#GETs) worldwide. In 2021, the U.K. grid operator unlocked 1.5 GW of capacity and saved an estimated $500 million over seven years using GETs—outcomes the U.S. could replicate with wider adoption. As 2025 approaches, modernizing the U.S. grid can fuel national energy security, efficiency, and sustainability goals. ? ?? Read more: https://lnkd.in/g_TaqiPk #GridEnhancingTechnologies #EnergyPolicy #CleanEnergy #GETTheGridMoving

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Order No. 1920-A Requires Grid Enhancing Technologies in Transmission Planning “Order No. 1920-A puts Grid Enhancing Technologies in utilities’ planning toolbox. These technologies are critical tools to address rising demand and support efficient, cost-effective transmission planning.”?- Hilary Pearson, Chair of the WATT Coalition and Vice President of Policy and External Affairs at LineVision “We commend FERC for developing this bipartisan regional transmission planning rule based on an unprecedented amount of stakeholder input. The inclusion of Grid Enhancing Technologies in Order No. 1920-A ensures that they are evaluated to save customers money and improve the performance of the transmission system."?- Julia Selker, Executive Director, WATT Coalition https://lnkd.in/gaZGij_9

The U.S. energy grid needs an upgrade –– and fast. We have the hardware and software available today to solve many of our grid’s pressing problems, if utilities choose to use them. Our society is electricity-hungry. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that our electric grid needs at least 57% more capacity in the next decade. New transmission infrastructure takes years to build. While we work on those new lines, we can rapidly unlock more capacity on the existing grid. We need to optimize the grid we have right now to serve new demand, integrate #CleanEnergy, and improve the grid’s resilience and reliability. Three technologies can rapidly and cheaply find more capacity on the grid at a fraction of the cost and timeline of building new infrastructure – they’re called Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs). Get acquainted with GETs in the first section of our new grid modernization playbook: https://lnkd.in/gd2J_MJ6 In this resource you’ll learn: - How these quick fixes can save over $4-8 billion per year in energy costs. - How GETs optimize existing infrastructure right away WHILE new transmission lines are built. - How GETs can help us rapidly adapt to environmental conditions, share resources between regions, and prevent the next blackout. Check out the whole playbook here >> https://lnkd.in/g_8TFX-8 Subscribe to the WATT newsletter for future updates >> https://lnkd.in/efSKzbnC

We’re proud to be participating in #Deploy24, the second annual gathering of leaders, experts, and decision-makers focused on accelerating deployment of clean energy and decarbonization technologies and enabling supply chains in the United States. Register before December 3 to join the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in Washington DC December 4-5. WATT executive director Julia Selker will speak on the panel “Near-Term Power Solutions for Load Growth: The Next Five Years” on Thursday at 2 pm.

Join the WATT Coalition for our annual Virtual Holiday Mixer and Expo on Thursday, December 12, from 11-1 ET. Design your character, explore our virtual room, and meet the technology developers, renewable energy experts and utilities working to future-proof our grid through casual networking, talks, and mini-games. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gKVDWrZY

APFC included in GRIP project for a second year running! Avista Utilities and Idaho Power will use SmartValves to support optimized use of a line that'll be newly rebuilt in this project to increase interregional transfer capability? The project will improve resilience and reliability and increase interregional transfer capacity by approximately 635 MW in total, benefiting hundreds of thousands of customers across Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established the GRIP program to invest in projects that enhance grid flexibility, improve the power system’s resilience against growing threats of extreme weather and climate change, and ensure American communities have access to affordable, reliable, clean electricity when and where they need it. This project was selected through the second round of GRIP funding and award negotiations will begin shortly. Press release ?? https://hubs.ly/Q02VQdwP0

Ensuring cost-effective transmission to support affordable state electricity policies is necessary, challenging, and possible! That's how I would summarize the bottom line of the panel discussion at the NARUC Annual Meeting this morning. The panel brought together state regulators, grid operators, and customer representatives to discuss the importance of proactive transmission planning and transmission cost controls and how they can be used to ensure a more cost-effective energy transition. Expertly moderated by Hon. Andrew French (KS) and great discussion with co-panelists Aubrey Johnson (MISO), Neil Millar (CAISO), Karen Onaran (ELCON), and Hon. Pat Scully (ME). The slides from my opening statement are posted here: https://lnkd.in/d-BhHaXF Thank you for the opportunity to participate in discussing this important topic!

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) approved a resolution recognizing the importance of advanced #transmission technologies. "There are many polarizing issues facing our country today – but deploying smart transmission technologies to cost-effectively strengthen the nation's #grid is not among them," says ACORE's Elise Caplan. "We hope to see the federal government build on NARUC's leadership to ensure these near-term grid solutions receive the support necessary to continue their momentum." Read ACORE's full statement ?? https://lnkd.in/eEUHf5pB

Today NARUC adopted a resolution in support of #GridEnhancingTechnologies and #HighPerformanceConductors! Federal grants that include these technologies have touched 29 states - these grants help utilities improve grid efficiency and lower costs. Doug Scott, Chair of the Illinois Commerce Commission, said: “We must adapt and innovate to serve growing electricity demand while maintaining energy affordability and reliability. Advanced Transmission Technologies should be among the default solutions to increase grid capacity and performance at the lowest cost.”? https://lnkd.in/gyXp2g5n

Today, WATT filed reply comments on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Implementation of #DynamicLineRatings. #FERC should progress without delay to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and a final rule requiring DLR on highly congested lines. https://lnkd.in/gzhik6bM