WIRES' new video "Spotlight On: The Electric Transmission Grid" continues to air on PBS stations through the remainder of 2018. The video is a basic introduction to the value of the grid and features Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) talking about the vital importance of investment in the electric grid for our standard of living. Spotlight On, which is available for use as an educational too, also features WIRES Executive Director & Counsel Jim Hoecker who argues that preparing the grid for a more electrified and challenging 21st Century economy requires a greater sense of urgency among policy makers, regulators, investors and the public. "We need to start now [to reinforce the system to meet greater future demands for power], or it will be too late," says Hoecker.

Although the U.S. Department of Energy has focused in 2018 on ensuring the resilience of the electric system through out-of-market support for nuclear and coal generation, it may be turning a page this Autumn. On August 23, DOE announced it will conduct its statutory Electric Transmission Congestion Study, with public comments due on October 9.  WIRES' comments will be available on that date.  

DOE staff also announced its intention to conduct a workshop on electric transmission development and siting issues, to be held in Arlington, VA on November 15. The workshop will feature three panels:

Contact David Meyer at DOE at 202-586-1411 with questions about the workshop and presenting at the workshop.  Register for the workshop. 

Through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), DOE staff also completed its analysis of the benefits of greater integration of the U.S. transmission system across market and interconnection boundaries. WIRES' Jim Hoecker keynoted the day-long TransGrid-X 2030 Symposium on July 16 at Iowa State University. The symposium brought together academic, government, and industry experts to discuss the benefits and challenges of building out a 'seamless' East-West grid. The large-scale national power transmission planning study from NREL and the symposium generated heightened interest from renewable energy developers wishing to expand their market access. Analysis of several of the bi-directional grid overlay expansion scenarios in the study offered benefit-to-cost ratios of at least 2.5-3.5 to 1. If fully built, the hypothetical projects presented by the NREL Seam Study could represent a trillion-dollar economic event. The study makes a powerful argument for major new investment in interregional transmission in support of energy diversity and larger, more liquid power markets with big consumer cost benefits. DOE has yet to release the study officially.

Read the NREL Seam Study.
Read more about the TransGrid-X 2030 Symposium.
Read the highlights of a WIRES report on the economic benefits of transmission expansion.

WIRES Executive Director & Counsel Jim Hoecker testified on July 12 before the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources during a hearing on U.S. energy delivery infrastructure. Hoecker urged the Committee to support industry efforts to expand and upgrade the high-voltage electric transmission network to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century energy economy.

In his remarks, Hoecker stressed that significant investment is needed now to replace aging infrastructure, support and facilitate deployment of new technology, prepare for an increasingly electrified economy, bring greater resilience to the electric system, and reach new and diverse generating resources. Hoecker posed key questions to the Committee: "We must now move from understanding the importance of infrastructure to more difficult questions: Are we building the right facilities, and are we building them in a timely fashion? Are we responding in a proactive way to the potential of a more electrified economy and accommodating and incorporating new technologies? Finally, are we fostering efficient development in order to create net benefits for consumers?"

Hoecker with fellow former FERC Chairman Joe Kelliher at Senate ENR hearing.

Read Hoecker's Opening Statement.

Read WIRES press release on the hearing.

Read Hoecker's response to Questions for the Record.

View the WIRES 2018 Summer Meeting presentations.

In partnership with The Brattle Group, WIRES has launched a study of the need for major investment in the high voltage grid to meet the energy demands of industry, including transportation and heating, that are becoming increasingly digitized and electrified. The study will include the effects of new technology developments that could easily result in electricity use by 2050 that is 40-50% greater than today. An inadequate or outdated grid could be a major hindrance to this more efficient and environmentally beneficial energy economy. Planning for such a grid and investing now is a major challenge in light of the magnitude of the investment, technological changes already underway, and traditional regulatory policies and practices. The finished report is expected in early 2019.

In addition, electrification was also the topic at a large West Coast conference in August presented by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The conference brought utilities together with other industries to study the push to electrify more of the U.S. economy. "The value of electricity 10 years from now and what it does to help all of us is going to be profound," said EPRI President Mike Howard.

Read more about Industrial Electrification.
Read about Brattle's electric transmission expertise.

In light of its growth and the growing complexity of electric grid issues, WIRES decided at its Summer Meeting to retain the support of Kellen Company, a global association management and communications company. Kellen helps build stronger not-for-profit organizations by freeing volunteer leaders from the constraints, inertia, and fear holding them back and then empowering them with the strategic thinking, best practices, technology, and top talent they need to achieve their goals. The Kellen team will support WIRES out of its Washington DC offices. It brings expertise in energy, domestic and global political and economic affairs, and communications to the table. The lead contact is Devin Sears, supported by Adair Douglas and Amory Brandon. We look forward to working with Kellen to make WIRES more effective in all its chosen missions.

Read more about Kellen.