transmission
Newsletter
Credit: Ashraf Chemban/Pixabay
US energy department selects sites for major electric transmission projects
The Department of Energy has identified 10 key areas for building high-capacity electric transmission lines to boost clean energy distribution across the U.S., as part of President Biden's climate strategy.
In short:
- The DOE's plan aims to expand the power grid via multistate ultra-high-capacity lines, enhancing nationwide clean energy accessibility.
- These corridors are intended to connect major renewable power sources to the grid, leveraging a $2 billion investment from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law.
- Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm emphasized that the initiative would modernize the grid and support the goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035.
Key quote:
"To meet our climate goals we have to more than double our transmission capacity."
— John Podesta, White House clean energy adviser
Why this matters:
This initiative is geared toward enhancing the distribution of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power across vast distances, which is important for reducing reliance on fossil fuels and combating climate change. Building these transmission lines is a step toward stabilizing energy prices and boosting economic growth through job creation in the construction and maintenance of the infrastructure. For communities, particularly those in remote or underserved areas, the enhanced infrastructure can lead to more reliable energy access and potentially lower electricity costs.
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Credit: Matthew Henry/Unsplash
Southern Spirit project faces hurdles from local utilities and legislation
Amid legislative and utility pushback, the ambitious Southern Spirit energy project confronts obstacles in its quest to enhance grid connectivity and bolster renewable power in the Southeast.
In short:
- The Southern Spirit project, aimed at linking Texas' power grid to the Southeast, faces opposition from utilities in Mississippi and Louisiana, fearing competition from cheaper electricity.
- Louisiana legislation may block the project by denying eminent domain for transmission lines that don't primarily serve the state.
- Despite opposition, the project is seen as a key step in boosting regional power resilience and facilitating renewable energy transmission.
Key quote:
"We have substantial challenges within markets, within generators, that are trying to stop the building of transmission."
— Mark Lauby, chief engineer, North American Electric Reliability Corporation
Why this matters:
Texas operates its own independent power grid managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which covers most of the state. This independence means that when Texas faces power shortages, like during the devastating winter storm in February 2021, it cannot easily import electricity from other grids. Linking grids can facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, by balancing variable outputs across a broader network, thus advancing environmental and public health goals.
Oil and gas production responsible for $77 billion in annual US health damages.
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Newsletter
Environmental assessment debate heats up over BC Hydro's LNG project
BC Hydro's quest for an environmental pass-through for an LNG line highlights a conflict between energy progress and ecological protection.
In short:
- BC Hydro is seeking to bypass an environmental assessment for a new transmission line intended to power LNG and mining industries.
- The proposed "alternative streamlined process" lacks clear environmental mitigation conditions and transparency.
- The $3 billion project could impact private properties, farmlands, waterways, and endangered species, raising concerns about the environmental and social costs.
Key quote:
“We are prepared to work with you to secure a federal commitment to this investment in infrastructure to support our collective climate change goals.”
— Letter from six First Nations leaders
Why this matters:
The project's exemption from rigorous environmental review poses a risk to sustainable development. It's pivotal for national energy policies and reflects the tension between economic growth and environmental conservation.
By keeping us focused on the climate benefits of gas vs. coal, industry seeks to delay a broader debate of the deficits of gas vs. renewables.
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Photo by Thomas Despeyroux on Unsplash
Minn. transmission line to boost reliability
Large cross-country transmission lines carrying clean energy from remote rural areas to population centers will be a key strategy for reducing emissions. But as a project in Minnesota illustrates, the grid puzzle is more complicated than that.
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Overwhelmed by solar projects, the nation’s largest grid operator seeks a two-year pause on approvals
The nation’s largest electric grid operator, PJM Interconnection, is so clogged with requests from energy developers seeking connections to its regional transmission network in the eastern United States that it is proposing a two-year pause on reviewing more than 1,200 energy projects, most of them solar power.
Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash
FERC, 10 states weigh transmission overhaul to unlock clean power
States want a more prominent role in planning for new electric transmission lines, a process that for years has hobbled the nation's capacity to move vast amounts of renewable power across the country.
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Renewables 'hit a wall' in saturated Upper Midwest grid
Transmission congestion in the Upper Midwest threatens to dramatically slow renewable energy development in the region, clean energy advocates say.
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