White House and DOE announcement will help support deployment of GETs
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the White House and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a new Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative aimed at bolstering America’s power grid by using tools like grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) and doing advanced reconductoring. Joining the Initiative are 21 inaugural states that have agreed to partner with the federal government to speed improvements to the power system.
“At a moment when our electric grid has been neglected, and the demand for energy is on the rise, we must make immediate grid upgrades while we also plan for more long-range transmission lines,” said Verna Mandez, Director of Transmission at Advanced Energy United. “There’s a whole suite of proven, reliable, and cost-effective technological innovations able to make our electric grids do more with less. If we don’t use these proven technologies right away, consumers will be left paying more for a less reliable energy system.”
States have been passing legislation this year as they lead the effort to bolster grid capacity with grid enhancing technologies and advanced reconductoring. Earlier this year, Virginia’s Governor signed H.B.862 into law, requiring electric utilities in the state to consider GETs in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) process. Last week, Minnesota’s legislature passed HF 5247 that adds GETs to the state’s transmission planning process and requires utilities owning more than 750 miles of transmission lines to evaluate GETs on highly congested lines.
“States are prioritizing policies that expand grid capacity because they see that the path to a 21st century economy is with 21st century technology solutions,” added Mandez. “States can take more control of their energy future and reduce costs for consumers by modernizing our electric transmission system.”
GETs and advanced conductors are a proven yet untapped tool we can use to quickly meet growing energy demand, and not making use of them is costing consumers right now. By one estimate, grid-enhancing technologies could have saved consumers $8.3 billion in 2022 alone.
Advanced Energy United, a national business association of companies creating clean grid solutions, attended the White House Summit on Modernizing the Power Grid where the new initiative was announced. Advanced Energy United leads an educational coalition campaign called Transmission Possible, which includes educational materials about GETs and transmission.
Click here to learn more about Advanced Energy United’s work advocating for advanced energy solutions to expand transmission capacity in America.