19 Jan
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 12, 2022) — The U.S. Department of Energy has announced its new initiative to catalyze the buildout of long-distance, high-voltage transmission lines, enabled by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“Americans for a Clean Energy Grid applauds Secretary Granholm’s initiative to expand our grid. Expanding and modernizing the transmission grid will improve its reliability, cut consumer electricity bills, create 6 million new jobs especially in rural areas, reduce carbon and other harmful air pollutants by as much as 95%, and allow America to compete with China, which is investing 80 times as much in its grid as America is in ours. The specific actions in today’s announcement could make a big dent in the national transmission challenge. While the funding levels are nowhere near what is required for a national macro grid, the capacity commitments on lines, the studies and engagement of states, and the use of all of DOE’s tools should catalyze significant industry action. Congress will also need to pass the Build Back Better Act with the tax credit for regionally significant transmission because there is no way to recover costs of large interstate lines presently. FERC’s initiative on transmission planning and cost allocation will also be critical.” — Rob Gramlich, Executive Director
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About Americans for a Clean Energy Grid:
Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG) is a leading non-profit, broad-based public interest advocacy coalition focused on the need to expand, integrate, and modernize the North American high-voltage grid. ACEG brings together the diverse support for an expanded and modernized grid from business, labor, consumer and environmental groups, and other transmission supporters to support policy which recognizes the benefits of a robust transmission grid. For more information, please visit cleanenergygrid.org
Media Contact: Sabreen Ahmed, Communications Associate
sabreen@dgardiner.com, 770-576-5343 (c)
