To aid the green energy transition, we need to modernize our grid infrastructure

While it’s true that some things improve over time, America’s aging electricity transmission infrastructure is not one of them. Updated electricity transmission infrastructure is essential to reduce emissions and ensure reliable electricity service. Congress passed the Green Energy Act to make this update a reality, but it’s up to a little-known government committee to fully realize the benefits of the transformative climate change law. And we need to act before it’s too late.

It is no exaggeration to say that our nation’s existing electricity transmission infrastructure – the energy cables, towers and transformers that move energy between power generation systems and final distribution and use – is outdated. Most of the United States’ electricity transmission infrastructure was built in the 1950s and 1960s and has reached or exceeded its useful life and is in dire need of renewal.

Our outdated infrastructure is unable to meet the needs of our communities, especially in the coming years as more sectors transition to electrified energy as their primary power source.

In recent laws, Inflation Control Act (IRA)And bipartisan infrastructure legislation accelerated the transition to clean energy. Since the passing of the IRA; $421 billion invested in clean energy projects. But the electricity generated by those investments is useless if it cannot be connected to the consumer on the other end.

Here’s why you need to upgrade your transmission infrastructure:

Current electricity transmission systems are a major obstacle to achieving the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. This goal would require reductions in almost everything. 60 percent If we don’t plan for this and build quickly, we won’t be able to transition to renewable energy in the timeframe we need to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

We are not keeping up with the renewable energy economy because we cannot get energy where it is needed. Currently, two-thirds of America’s renewable energy potential comes from just 15 states in the middle of the country. But most of that energy is consumed on the coast. To keep up with the renewable energy economy, these grid systems must be expanded to: 60 percent Better planned transmission can move power more efficiently from generation to consumption while increasing capacity.

Natural disasters and extreme weather events are putting even more pressure on the power grid. During periods of extreme heat, cold, or flooding, demand for energy increases and prices rise. Last year alone, 28 extreme weather events occurred in the United States, resulting in more than 28 cases of damage. 1 billion dollars, from devastating floods in Vermont to devastating fires in Hawaii. Upgrading the electricity transmission system makes the energy grid more resilient to weather changes and lowers prices for consumers.

Finally, upgrading transmission infrastructure can save consumers money.Winter utility bills can be covered for low-income Americans in New England 27% of income. Increasing transmission capacity and deploying renewable energy can improve access to a diverse mix of clean energy and reduce these bills.

For all these reasons and more, we need to upgrade and expand our transmission capacity. However, current regulations make it difficult to build the necessary infrastructure to do so.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), a little-known but important federal agency, could significantly improve the situation by quickly finalizing a strong transmission plan and cost-allocation rules that it has been working on. It is expected to be discussed at a special meeting next week.

A robust final rule should require transmission regions to plan for long-term future expansion, taking into account renewable energy transition goals. It should also create a system that allocates the cost of transmission construction based on the benefits ratepayers receive from new infrastructure. FERC must also develop a plan to address discrepancies in the cost allocation process.

Reinvigorating our clean energy transmission system is within our reach, but we need a well-connected power grid that serves both metropolitan and rural areas alike, from Boston to Brattleboro. There are major obstacles to building.

Failure to modernize outdated power grid infrastructure is the biggest threat to the green energy transition. FERC must take action and finalize this rule so we can modernize our transmission and energy systems before it’s too late.

Peter Welch is a junior senator from Vermont.