The U.S. power grid urgently needs expansion to meet rising energy demands and support economic growth, but the incoming Trump administration’s stance on clean energy and federal initiatives could hinder progress.
Jeff St. John reports for Canary Media.
In short:
- Federal grid expansion plans made progress under the Biden administration, with $64 billion in transmission projects, but experts say far more investment is needed.
- A new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) order mandates 20-year grid planning to improve reliability, though it faces potential legal challenges from Republican-led states.
- Republican-backed proposals could limit federal involvement in grid upgrades, favoring fossil fuel infrastructure and curtailing interregional transmission projects.
Key quote:
“We can’t achieve energy dominance in this country if we can’t get power to where it needs to go.”
— Tyler Duvelius, director of external affairs for the Conservative Energy Network
Why this matters:
Delays in grid expansion could lead to higher energy costs, grid instability and economic slowdowns, particularly as demand for electricity surges with new data centers, factories and extreme weather events straining outdated infrastructure.
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