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21 U.S. states have committed to modernizing the power grid to meet challenges and create opportunities

Posted on by darion

Twenty-one states across the United States have committed to prioritizing efforts to adopt modern grid solutions aimed at increasing grid capacity and building modern grid capabilities on both new and existing transmission and distribution lines. These states include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin .

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Ray Long, president and CEO of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), praised the federal state’s modern transmission grid initiative, supported by 21 states, as a significant step toward achieving a more connected transmission system. Long emphasized the importance of modernizing existing transmission lines and using public-private partnerships to implement readily available technologies to achieve energy goals.

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The U.S. power grid, built in the 1960s and 1970s, is struggling to cope with extreme weather events caused by climate change and the growing demand for renewable energy. With 70% of transmission lines over 25 years old and nearing the end of their life, there is an urgent need for modernization.

The Department of Energy (DOE) offers technical and analytical assistance programs to help countries implement advanced networking technologies. Financing opportunities through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act (BIL) allow states to access resources for grid modernization.

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) welcomed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) final rule on regional transmission planning and cost allocation, highlighting the importance of reforms to incorporate the benefits of clean energy into the transmission planning process.

Melissa Alfano, senior director of energy markets and SEIA advisor, welcomed the steps FERC has taken to improve the U.S. transmission system, including long-term regional planning requirements.

Overall, the commitment of states and federal agencies to modernize the U.S. power grid reflects a concerted effort to increase reliability, resiliency and affordability while advancing clean energy goals across the country.