One Trillion Dollars for Green Grid

Massive federal spending now in the wings will transform our electric grid and put us on the pathway to sustainability, according to Sheri Givens, president and CEO of SEPA, the Smart Electric Power Alliance.

“It’s exciting to see a $1 trillion in investments coming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the IRA [inflation reduction act] collectively,” Given told Grid Talk, the U.S. Department of Energy podcast now completing its third year.

Grid Talk’s audience has steadily grown with more than 65,000 downloads, placing it in the top 10 percent podcasts on its platform, which host almost 125,000 podcasts. Listen to Givens at smartgrid.gov/gridtalk.

“In looking and listening to our many members and regulators who are involved in accessing those funds, I think it’s an exciting time for clean energy investment and investment in infrastructure.?

“Whether or not enough is being done, time will tell. I know it takes a while to ramp up such large targeted investment and I know a lot of the utilities and the stakeholders are waiting for clear guidance from the federal government,” Givens said.

Like a huge oil tanker that takes time to change course, the massive electric power industry has pivoted in a big way.

“I would say that three-fourths of U.S. electric customers that are served by a utility currently having a 100% carbon reduction target which is good news; we’re mostly there,” Givens said.

“Iit’s great to see the federal government stepping up and leaning in to the 2050 as being the goal for carbon-free but I think it’s even more exciting to see the states and the local utilities doing their part and trying to achieve it at a faster paced and at a greater scale,” she said.