Back to OurEnergyLibrary search




How Are We Going to Build All That Clean Energy Infrastructure?

How Are We Going to Build All That Clean Energy Infrastructure?

Full Title: How Are We Going to Build All That Clean Energy Infrastructure?
Author(s): Liza Reed, Leslie Abrahams, Armond Cohen, Joseph Majkut, Bruce Phillips, Andrew Place, Julia Prochnik
Publisher(s): Clean Air Task Force, Niskanen Center
Publication Date: August 23, 2021
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):

Most analyses find that to manage climate change, the United States will need to double or triple the size of its electric transmission system to move low-cost wind and solar energy around the nation and back it up with always-on power plants. But new report from Clean Air Task Force and the Niskanen Center finds that the current piecemeal, project-by-project approach to expanding U.S. electricity transmission won’t get us there. It instead calls for a new system to rapidly scale capacity — including by potentially establishing a National Transmission Organization that would plan, site, and fund a national grid to ensure that burdens and benefits are fairly shared.

The report synthesizes the findings from independent research and a workshop composed of a diverse array of experts from academia, industry, and environmental organizations. It outlines a wide range of options for revamping U.S. transmission oversight, planning, and permitting. Additionally, it includes both a pathway with a better organized private sector presence and a pathway with greater government engagement. These possibilities sit on a spectrum, and creative hybrids are possible.

All statements and/or propositions in discussion prompts are meant exclusively to stimulate discussion and do not represent the views of OurEnergyPolicy.org, its Partners, Topic Directors or Experts, nor of any individual or organization. Comments by and opinions of Expert participants are their own.

Sign up for our Press Release Distribution List

    Your Name (required)

    Your Email (required)

    Please sign me up to receive press releases from OurEnergyPolicy.org.