Arthur Smith’s Post

To avoid disasters associated with overextending our energy capacity, massive upgrades must be made to the grid — and fast. These upgrades will require *large* investments. As this article demonstrates, there is concern the cost will land on individual consumers and not the companies that are creating this burden, while lengthening the timelines for implementation of the clean energy transition. "The situation is sparking battles across the nation over who will pay for new power supplies, with regulators worrying that residential ratepayers could be stuck with the bill for costly upgrades. It also threatens to stifle the transition to cleaner energy, as utility executives lobby to delay the retirement of fossil fuel plants and bring more online. The power crunch imperils their ability to supply the energy that will be needed to charge the millions of electric cars and household appliances required to meet state and federal climate goals."

Dramatically improving the grid must be one of the highest national priorities. It is not simply essential for the clean energy transition, it is vital to our economy. https://lnkd.in/grpsYPKN

With the #SEC climate rule being the big news last week, I wanted to wait to share an article from the Washington Post about the demand for power that is increasing exponentially. As a northern Virginia resident living a stone's throw from #DataCenterAlley, I am seeing this issue playing out in real-time. The urgent need to get renewable energy sources and transmission modes online is undeniable and needs to be expedited, but with that in mind, I still believe we have the ability (and the duty) to do so in a way that is not environmentally detrimental. Hopefully science and engineering progresses at a rate that can facilitate #breakthroughtech that can provide lower-emitting power relief for all. https://lnkd.in/eDJQNMDn

‘Unprecedented Surge’ in U.S. Power Demand Requires Transmission Overhaul, Says FERC Chair FERC acted to revamp the entire U.S. transmission grid to prepare for extreme climate threats and face the challenge of growing power demand – including for natural gas-fired generation – via a rulemaking that outlines how to plan and pay for facilities. Still to come are the legal battles.

In a 2-1 vote @FERC approved on Monday the first major electric transmission policy update in over a decade that aims to speed up new interregional lines to move more clean energy to meet growing demand amid the explosion of electric vehicles, data centers and artificial intelligence, and as coal plants are retired. The rule will play a key role in helping meet the Biden administration's goal of decarbonizing the economy by 2050 and making the grid more resilient to more frequent climate-fueled extreme weather events. #energy #power #FERC #prospectresources

In a 2-1 vote @FERC approved on Monday the first major electric transmission policy update in over a decade that aims to speed up new interregional lines to move more clean energy to meet growing demand amid the explosion of electric vehicles, data centers and artificial intelligence, and as coal plants are retired. The rule will play a key role in helping meet the Biden administration's goal of decarbonizing the economy by 2050 and making the grid more resilient to more frequent climate-fueled extreme weather events. #energy #power #FERC #prospectresources

“The [U.S. power] grid is not large enough. And because it’s not large enough, and because the different regions of the country are not as well connected together as they should be, the grid isn’t as resilient as it should be, and therefore our health and economy is at risk.” That's what John Moore, an energy expert at the Natural Resources Defense Council, says. Moore says we have enough power to fuel America's needs. The trick is getting it from point A to point B. All the more reason why The Christian Science Monitor's Stephanie Hanes story is an important read for anyone concerned about the resilience and reliability of the power grid, and how high electric bills could go. https://lnkd.in/enmb-r5Z #ElectricGrid #energy #utilities #litrendingtopics

Interesting read! The U.S. can make a significant leap towards a clean, renewable-powered grid by simply upgrading existing high-voltage power lines. This "reconductoring" involves replacing old steel wires with modern carbon-fiber ones, which can double power capacity and reduce risks like sagging that can lead to fires or outages. 🔧 Why This Matters: Speed and Cost Efficiency: Upgrading wires is faster and cheaper than building new lines, avoiding lengthy approvals and land acquisition. Clean Energy Boost: Enables faster integration of renewables stuck in the "interconnection queue," supporting wind, solar, and battery power. Climate Impact: A crucial step for reducing emissions and combating climate change. 📊 Current Grid Challenges: Outdated infrastructure slows clean energy adoption. New projects face long approval waits and high costs. 🏗️ What’s Changing: New federal policies streamline the upgrade process. Biden's administration targets 100,000 miles of upgraded transmission lines in the next five years. Embrace this "triple win" solution for the electricity system, utilities, and consumers, and let's power the future sustainably! #CleanEnergy #Renewables #ElectricGrid #Sustainability #ClimateAction #Innovation #EnergyTransition

We're going to need a bigger ... everything - so much more generation to power it, and the transmission to move the power to where it is needed, cost-effectively and reliably. America needs a grid to power America. #Americaneedsagrid Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG)

Agree w/expanding the grid, Rob Gramlich. I do think the market is sleeping on the headline: we are heading toward a sustained short-power position and we need lots more #renewables generation + dispatchable, carbon-free power to fill that short. #greenhydrogen + fuel cells will be a big part of the solution