The Macro Grid Initiative is a joint effort of the American Council on Renewable Energy and Americans for a Clean Energy Grid to promote investment in a 21st century transmission infrastructure that enhances reliability, improves efficiency, and delivers more low-cost clean energy.
Investment in more interregional transmission through a U.S. Macro Grid that better connects our largest population centers with our lowest-cost renewable resources will enhance grid reliability, save consumers billions of dollars, deliver significant job creation and dramatically reduce carbon emissions.
By utilizing neighboring electricity supplies, we increase resilience and threat mitigation, and move power supplies from where they are available to where they are needed. Power system operators confirm that a larger geographic footprint decreases energy supply/demand variability and improves system performance.
Building a nationally-connected high voltage transmission network would save the U.S. more than $40 billion annually, according to multiple studies analyzing how to decarbonize the grid by 2050. (Nature Climate Change; ZerobyFifty)
Building a nationally-connected high voltage transmission network would save the U.S. more than $40 billion annually, according to multiple studies analyzing how to decarbonize the grid by 2050.
(Nature Climate Change; ZerobyFifty)
The Value of Transmission During Winter Storm Elliott
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Advanced Conductors on Existing Transmission Corridors to Accelerate Low Cost Decarbonization
“The overarching vision of the Macro Grid Initiative – to expand and upgrade the nation’s transmission network – will generate jobs and stimulate economic development, hasten clean energy integration and ultimately, lower energy costs for consumers. Equally important, the Initiative’s effort can help advocate for more strategic planning of transmission infrastructure and encourage leadership and a sense of urgency by national and state policymakers.”
“Emerging economic and policy conditions warrant a massive amount of transmission development in the next couple decades. It will be critical for transmission policy reforms to reduce barriers to development, improve planning processes and squeeze more efficiency out of existing infrastructure. The vision of the Macro Grid Initiative is right on point by aligning transmission development with economic, environmental and consumer outcomes.”
“In this transformative and turbulent period, the nation cannot afford to neglect innovation and investment in a clean, economically efficient, and market-driven energy future. Unless an integrated, inter-regional transmission grid can be established, much of our best renewable energy will remain inaccessible to consumers and industry and the anticipated growth in the use of electricity for transportation will not be met. Overcoming the barriers to siting long-line transmission facilities is a critical task before us and new industry partnerships will be key. We support this “breakthrough” initiative as a refreshing recognition of a frequently unrecognized need.”
“To respond to the challenge of climate change, we need ambitious investments in our electrical grid. Solar, wind and other renewable energy sources are booming, moving us toward a carbon-free future. But we need a way to connect all this clean energy to our homes. Modernizing our outdated transmission network will create jobs, grow our economy – and allow responsibly sited, cleaner energy to thrive.”
“Transmission is critical to facilitating a clean energy future. ITC looks forward to working with Americans for a Clean Energy Grid and ACORE to support expanding regional and interregional transmission through the Macro Grid Initiative.”
“Building out our grid brings jobs, efficient markets, and cheaper and cleaner power. No individual or company can do this alone. But together with a broad public and policy maker consensus I have no doubt it can and will be done. I’m excited to see ACORE and ACEG’s Macro Grid Initiative take on this important effort.”
“Modernizing our electrical grid and upgrading our nation’s transmission network is an opportunity to create new, good-paying jobs for workers across our nation. Transmission projects generally utilize Project Labor Agreements, which set the ground rules for projects between workers and employers to ensure good wages and safe working conditions. Transforming the grid will ensure we can move cleaner energy throughout our nation and reduce the emissions driving climate change.”
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Barbara Tyran Advisor, Macro Grid Initiative Phone 202.777.7590 Email tyran@acore.org
Kevin O’Rourke Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Public Affairs Email orourke@acore.org
