Across the country there is growing recognition that our electric grid needs to be modernized and expanded. Recent studies describe the wide-ranging benefits of investing in the electric grid, as well as the costs of under investment. To support our mission to develop America’s next generation energy infrastructure, Grid United regularly participates in policy discussions and regulatory proceedings.
See below for useful studies, regulatory filings and news.
This study shares that electricity demand growth over the next five years has nearly doubled over previous forecasts. This is largely due to the growth in American manufacturing, industrial and data center facilities. Overall, the U.S. electric grid is not prepared for the electricity demands of the next five years.
This study shares that electricity demand growth over the next five years has nearly doubled over previous forecasts. This is largely due to the growth in American manufacturing, industrial and data center facilities. Overall, the U.S. electric grid is not prepared for the electricity demands of the next five years.
The Need for Intertie Optimization: Reducing Customer Costs, Improving Grid Resilience, and Encouraging Interregional Transmission
October 2023
This study finds that optimizing the use of existing or new interregional transmission capability between the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), Midcontinent ISO (MISO), or PJM Interconnection (PJM) would provide approximately $50-60 million annually in additional value for every gigawatt of intertie capacity beyond what bilateral trades are currently able to capture.
The Operational and Market Benefits of HVDC to System Operators
September 2023
Sponsored by American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), Allete, Clean Grid Alliance, GridLab, Grid United, and Pattern Energy Group, this report brings forth the latest knowledge on HVDC technology with the goal to fully incorporate HVDC technology into the design, planning and future operations of the North American grid.
The study identifies both current and anticipated future needs that could be alleviated by transmission solutions. The findings of the study will inform the U.S. Department of Energy as it coordinates the use of its authorities and funding related to electric transmission, including implementing the many grid resilience and technology investment provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act.
The Latest Market Data Show that the Potential Savings of New Electric Transmission Was Higher Last Year than at Any Point in the Last Decade
February 2023
The study finds that in 2022, additional regional and interregional transmission could have reduced electric system costs by more than in any year from 2012 through 2021.
Empirical Estimates of Transmission Value Using Locational Marginal Prices
August 2022
Focusing on one potential benefit of transmission – congestion relief – this study finds that many existing transmission planning approaches are likely understating the economic value of new transmission infrastructure. The study highlights the need for planners to more comprehensively assess the value of transmission under both normal and extreme conditions – as extreme conditions and high-value periods disproportionately boost the value of new transmission, but are not always adequately considered in forward-looking assessments.
A Roadmap to Improved Interregional Transmission Planning
November 2021
As outlined in this study, in spite of a near-consensus by stakeholders in the electric power industry that the benefits and value of expanding interregional transmission capabilities [including resource and load diversification, increased system reliability and resilience, and wholesale power market benefits] often exceed its costs, there remain significant barriers to interregional transmission planning and project development. This study outlines those barriers and provides a “roadmap” of recommendations to improve interregional planning processes and analytics.
Fleetwide Failures: How Interregional Transmission Tends to Keep the Lights on When There Is a Loss of Generation
November 2021
Interregional transmission can help keep power flowing when widespread, unplanned generation outages occur, as demonstrated by the extreme weather events referenced in this report. For example, due to a lack of interregional ties, ERCOT was only able to import approximately 800 MW of power from SPP during the week of Winter Storm Uri. While MISO and SPP also experienced similar cold weather conditions, those RTOs were able to import more electricity from other regions experiencing milder temperatures.
Transmission Makes the Power System Resilient to Extreme Weather
July 2021
Weather-related power outages cost Americans $25-70 billion annually. This analysis reviews five recent severe weather events to determine the value additional transmission would have provided.
The Value of Increased HVDC Capacity Between Eastern and Western U.S. Grids: The Interconnections Seam Study
October 2020
The study describes the high benefit to cost ratio to adding interregional high voltage direct current transmission lines to the U.S. electric grid. Currently there are seven back-to-back high-voltage direct-current facilities enabling approximately 1 GW of electricity to flow between the Eastern and Western interconnections. This transfer capability between the interconnections is very small compared to the networks they connect—the larger Eastern interconnection is home to 700 GW of generating capacity, and the Western interconnect is home to roughly 250 GW of electricity.
