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The transmission challenge: More renewable energy is being generated, but distribution infrastructure is lacking
- March 1, 2023: Vol. 16, Number 3

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The transmission challenge: More renewable energy is being generated, but distribution infrastructure is lacking

by Tyson Freeman

The transition to renewable energy in the United States is facing a good news, bad news scenario. The good news: aggressive decarbonization goals, the growth of ESG investment strategies and a willing investor class have supported higher-than-expected delivery of renewable-energy power projects in recent years.

The bad news: in many parts of the country — mostly where it makes the most sense to build more solar and wind — there is not enough transmission grid capacity for the current pace of growth to continue.

“If the plan is to double the amount of renewable-energy generation, then we must more than double the grid,” says Jeff Weiss, executive chairman of renewable energy services provider, Distributed Sun. “As it stands, with today’s rate of grid development, there is zero chance for that to happen.”

New and upgraded grid infrastructure is needed, and a lot of it. According to a comprehensive report published by Princeton University, Net-zer

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