Meet ACEG’s leadership and learn about our work advocating for the expansion and modernization of North America’s high-capacity transmission grid.
Nearly every element of modern life depends on reliable electricity. Expanding and modernizing the U.S. grid is vital to improve reliability, lower costs, safeguard national security, and achieve clean energy goals.
A complex network of high-capacity transmission lines transport energy from where it is produced into our homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals. Multiple federal, state, and local authorities have the power to regulate transmission. ACEG explores how transmission is planned, how it is permitted, and who pays for it.
Transmission is critical to electric reliability, particularly as extreme weather becomes more frequents and demands on the grid due to electrification increase. High-capacity transmission allows regions to share energy in moments of need, which helps keep the lights on and reduce costs for household energy customers.
Increased transmission capacity is critical to improving grid reliability. Incremental interregional transmission enables higher generation diversity and access in the face of uncertainties like fuel or generation loss, transmission outages, and extreme weather events.
Marginalized communities that have long experienced high rates of energy insecurity and health impacts of pollution. Low-income communities and communities of color are significantly more likely to live near polluting power plants. Increased transmission can reduce pollution by replacing power sources like coal and oil with clean energy resources distributed via transmission. An expanded grid will also improve reliability, preventing power outages that disproportionately hit marginalized communities, and reduce personal energy costs.
There are many serious threats to the physical security of the U.S. electric grid, including cyberattacks, physical attacks, and extreme weather. Policymakers at the federal and state level should take action to protect American energy security by expanding our high-capacity transmission system.
Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG) released a report identifying recommended practices for transmission developers engaging with the landowners, tribal governments, and local communities impacted by a project. The transmission siting process can be fraught, but — as the report outlines — developers that undertake meaningful, respectful, and consistent engagement can build trust in communities and improve their project’s chance of success. Many have already taken these steps, and they provide a model for future projects.
Incremental interregional transmission can enable higher generation diversity and access in the face of uncertainties like fuel or generation loss, transmission outages, or extreme weather events.
Recent federal legislation includes billions of dollars in loans, grants, and other forms of financial assistance to support transmission projects. ACEG compiled a list of programs established or enhanced by the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.