21 Jul
[UPDATE] July 23, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – On July 1, 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released its Energy Infrastructure Update for April 2025, which included revisions to previously reported data on completed miles of new transmission. FERC’s updated report shows that there were slightly more new miles of high-voltage transmission constructed in 2023 and 2024 than indicated by earlier reports. For 2023, FERC now reports approximately 400 miles of new 345 kV transmission lines were constructed and 50 miles of new 500 kV lines, up from our previously reported total of just 55 miles of new 345 kV+ transmission constructed in 2023. For 2024, FERC now reports 334 miles of new 345 kV transmission lines were constructed and 554 miles of new 500 kV lines, for a total of 888 miles of new 345 kV+ transmission constructed in 2024. We have provided this addendum in the report to likewise adjust the numbers included.
July 21, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) — A new report released today by Americans for a Clean Energy Grid and Grid Strategies warns that the United States is failing to build the high-voltage transmission infrastructure needed to support the nation’s surging electricity demand and growing strategic industries.
In 2024, just 322 miles of high-voltage transmission lines were completed, marking the third slowest year for such construction in the past 15 years. By comparison, nearly 4,000 miles were built in 2013 alone. This shortfall puts critical sectors like semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing at risk at an important time for the future of the U.S. economy.
“As electricity demand climbs due to the onshoring of manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and electrification, the pace of transmission development isn’t keeping up,” said Christina Hayes, Executive Director of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid. “We’re seeing a serious mismatch between where we are and where we need to be.”
The Department of Energy’s 2024 National Transmission Planning Study implies the need to build roughly 5,000 miles of new high-capacity transmission per year in the U.S. to ensure grid reliability, support economic growth, and deliver low-cost power to customers. The 2024 buildout—less than a tenth of that target—underscores the scale of the challenge.
High-capacity transmission can deliver power at up to 75% lower cost per megawatt than lower-voltage alternatives, offering a cost-effective way to ease ratepayer burdens at a time of rising electricity rates.
The report calls for urgent action to bridge the gap between transmission policy and implementation. Federal policies such as FERC Order No. 1920 and bipartisan regulatory reform proposals from 2024 lay the foundation for progress, but must now be matched by ambitious, proactive, and multi-value regional transmission planning in the regions and permitting reform in Congress.
“We know that thousands of miles of transmission can be built each year because in 2013 we did it, with California, Texas, the Southwest Power Pool, and Midcontinent Independent System Operator all building hundreds of miles,” said Rob Gramlich, President of Grid Strategies. “They all employed proactive long-term planning with broad beneficiary pays cost allocation. The formula is well understood and can be put in place in any region.”
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About Americans for a Clean Energy Grid:
Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG) is a non-profit, broad-based public interest advocacy coalition focused on the need to expand, integrate, and modernize the North American high-capacity grid. ACEG brings together a diverse coalition — including business, labor, consumer, environmental groups, and other transmission supporters — to advocate for policies that recognize the benefits of a robust transmission grid.
Media Contact:
Chloe Slayter, External Affairs Manager
chloe.slayter@cleanenergygrid.org | 805-556-5344
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