673: The Grid We Need to Decarbonize America: A Playbook by Jesse Jenkins, Princeton University

Amid America's energy shift, initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act and bipartisan infrastructure bills are making clean energy more accessible and affordable, driving a 42% investment increase to $225 billion in a year. Yet, to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, an acceleration is essential. Jesse Jenkins of Princeton University, speaking at Intersolar NA, provides not just an analysis of these challenges but a practical roadmap for embracing clean electricity nationwide. He highlights the shift from traditional fuels to a future powered by renewables like wind and solar, emphasizing the need to boost renewable energy production and expand the grid to support a net-zero future.

Jesse’s playbook includes:

⚡️ Insights into scaling solar and wind power to unprecedented levels by the 2030s.

⚡️ The necessity of adding 75,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines for a robust grid.

⚡️ Strategies for phasing out coal and leveraging existing zero-carbon resources for reliability.

⚡️ Overview of emerging clean technologies poised for growth in the next decades.

⚡️ Approaches to enhance grid flexibility with storage solutions and demand response mechanisms.

Jesse Jenkins's talk offers a clear, actionable guide for transitioning the U.S. to clean electricity, emphasizing the expansion of renewable sources and grid enhancement, making it an essential playbook for those committed to America's decarbonization efforts.

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