New initiative to draw investor attention to US grid upgrade

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) and Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG) on Wednesday announced the launch of a new initiative designed to promote investment in the upgrade and expansion of the US transmission network.

The Macro Grid Initiative is created to build support for the transmission system's upgrade, which will help reduce transmission congestion and facilitate new generation integration.

“A Macro Grid will allow for better integration of low-cost renewable energy, resulting in a more resilient, efficient grid and a dramatic reduction in carbon emissions,” ACORE president and CEO, Gregory Wetstone, commented.

The programme, backed by Bill Gates's organisation Breakthrough Energy, will manage wide-ranging educational initiatives that back transmission expansion to provide connection between areas with renewable resources and regions with high power demand. This envisions connecting areas in which organisations like MISO, PJM and SPP operate.

To make the development of the upgraded network possible, new federal, regional and state policies will be needed, the statement concludes.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!