The grid is the key to our clean energy momentum – where are we?

That’s the good news. The bad news is that according to Berkley Labs grid connection requests grew by 30% in 2023 and there are now 2,600 gigawatts of capacity sitting in interconnection queues, 95% of which are renewable energy projects.

Why?

There are lots of reasons including the interconnection process itself and a shortage of qualified people to review application. But the biggest reason is the electric grid itself. It wasn’t designed for what we’re trying to do. Nor is it equipped to handle a surge in electricity demand – which is precisely what the goal to electrify everything will create.

Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of transmission projects that have been announced. This is welcome news if we hope to cut into the interconnection backlog and maintain the renewable energy momentum of the past few years.

Here is a sample of the projects that have been announced:

• April 2, 2024 – The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) proposes a $6.1 billion transmission plan mostly to facilitate offshore wind.
• March 21, 2024 – National Grid announced a $4 billion upgrade plan for the upstate New York grid.
• March 7, 2024 – The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) proposed an up to $23 billion transmission expansion that would create a 765-kV transmission backbone across the Midwest region.
• February 19, 2024 – Over the next four years Con Edison of New York plans to invest $20 billion in transmission infrastructure.
• October 20, 2023 – After more than a decade, the $7 billion Grain Belt Express power line from Kansas to Indiana cleared one of its last major hurdles.

What’s our illustrious federal government doing?

While the feds shower wind and solar with additional and in my opinion unnecessary incentives, they are throwing mice nuts amounts of money at various grid modernization programs. This needs to reverse but expecting Washington to get anything right may be asking too much.

At least utilities and grid operators are starting to apply resources – not enough and not fast enough but the level of activity does seem to be growing.

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