How to stop America’s outdated grid holding back the deployment of clean energy

5 snips

Sep 17, 2024

The podcast dives into the urgent need for a modernized energy grid in the U.S., highlighting a staggering 60% expansion requirement by 2030 to meet clean energy demands. Challenges in regulatory processes and local opposition are examined, revealing why new transmission lines are difficult to build. The discussion also tackles the controversial Manchin-Barrasso Bill, weighing its potential to streamline infrastructure against concerns over fossil fuel support. Additionally, insights on oil price volatility's impact on clean energy investment showcase the complexities facing the industry.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Decarbonizing the Grid: Challenges and Opportunities

01:39 • 14min

Navigating Energy Cost Allocation and Grid Challenges

15:21 • 33min

Incremental Progress on Energy Legislation

48:36 • 2min

Optimizing America's Energy Grid for a Sustainable Future

50:14 • 3min

The Impact of Oil Price Volatility on Clean Energy Investment

52:51 • 2min

Dramatic Insights on 'Landman'

55:00 • 5min

There’s no transition without transmission, they say. It’s a cliché because it’s true. The US Department of Energy says that the nation will need to expand transmission capacity by 60% by 2030 to meet growing clean energy demand. A recent study found that delays in transmission development are adding $2.5 billion annually in additional costs to consumers due to the inefficiencies of the current grid. So why is building transmission lines in the U.S. so hard?

To find out, host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers-Jaffe of NYU are joined by Christina Hayes, Executive Director of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid. Her organization, which is backed by clean energy and tech companies and environmental groups, works to “expand, integrate, and modernize the North American high-voltage grid.”

Christina explains some of the complexities of building new transmission lines in the US, taking us through the regulatory, local, and state barriers that slow down the development of new capacity that is essential for the growth of renewable energy.

The Manchin-Barrasso Bill, legislation proposed in the Senate to expedite the construction of new energy infrastructure in the US, has been generating some heated debate. Could the proposals be a game-changer for infrastructure development that will accelerate deployment of clean energy and help cut emissions? Or do they give too much to fossil fuel interests relatives to the potential gains for renewables? The gang debate the pros and cons of the bill, and how much impact federal legislation can have when so many barriers exist at the local level.

They also discuss some of the other key issues for the grid. FERC Order 1920 was issued in May: what is it, and why is it so significant for transmission planning? And advanced transmission technologies: how can innovations such as reconductoring and grid-enhancing technologies make the grid stronger and more flexible, and what obstacles are in the way of these investments?

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The article Ed mentions early on in the show is here: https://www.cleanenergygrid.org/fewer-new-miles-2024/

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