Investing in transmission and electric infrastructure is an excellent opportunity to put people to work in the clean economy.

The Challenge

Today’s network of transmission and distribution equipment still includes components from over 100 years ago. Varying age, condition, and capacity make it difficult to provide reliable power, and unreliable equipment, severe weather, and overloading can all cause power disruptions and damage to electric equipment. Unfortunately, as climate change gets worse, so does the problem. More than 60% of power outages lasting longer than eight hours are due to climate events like very heavy rain or snow, extreme heat, and tropical cyclones.  

According to the Americans for a Clean Energy Grid, the interconnection of our nation’s transmission system must be increased drastically in order to supply a clean, resilient, nationwide grid. Expanding our national transmission system will also ensure faster and more efficient delivery of existing renewables to relieve congestion and avoid curtailments. Further priority should be given to projects that reduce the renewable generation queue, which as of 2022 has more than 930 gigawatts of clean energy waiting to be connected to the grid. This also includes preparing and building infrastructure to support the vast amounts of future offshore wind deployment.