We are doing everything short of actually fixing the problem
It’s an electrifying time to be an American.
Every day, we plug in more electric vehicles, data centers grow and energy demands in homes and businesses rise. It’s exciting to see renewable energy sources like wind and solar scaling up, but all that power is pointless if it can’t get to where it’s needed. That’s where transmission lines come in.
Think of high-voltage transmission lines as the highways of our energy system, moving electricity from power plants to our homes and businesses. Inadequate "energy highways” create traffic jams. Unfortunately, modern load growth coursing through our aging grid is about to be like navigating Los Angeles traffic at rush hour — everything slows down, and no one gets anywhere fast.
With this in mind, here’s some positive news: The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) Grid Deployment Office (GDO) recently announced an investment of $1.5 billion in four transmission projects through the Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP).
The TFP is an innovative fund established to overcome financial barriers faced by transmission developers. If it works as anticipated, it will enhance grid reliability, reduce congestion and connect millions of Americans to more affordable energy.
But here’s the kicker: we need way more than 1,000 miles of new transmission lines.
According to a study from the National Renewable Energy Lab, we’ll need 91,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines by 2035 to meet our clean energy goals. For context, we only built 386 miles of new transmission lines in 2021. That’s because the high price tag isn’t the only thing standing in the way of critical expansion, and trying to fix the problem with money alone has America on the scenic route to our badly needed clean energy transition.
The truth is, the average transmission project takes about 10 years from start to finish. Why? It’s the same reason anything takes so long in the energy sector: Permitting.
On average, it takes about eight years to permit a new transmission line project. That includes environmental studies, public consultations, and jumping through local, state and federal hoops. These steps are crucial for protecting local communities and the environment, but they also result in major roadblocks impeding our clean future.
The Transmission Facilitation Program is a start, but we need real permitting reform.
Throwing more money at the problem won’t fix it. We need a smarter, faster process that balances accountability with urgency. Modernizing the system will take bipartisan political will; that’s the key to advancing beyond the symbolic wins of today and achieving large-scale transformative changes we desperately need.
The clock is ticking, and the gap between what we’re building and what we need is only getting wider.
Permitting reform has always been politically complex, balancing development with local and environmental interests. But it’s clear that without an overhaul, we cannot hope to achieve our country’s clean energy transition within a reasonable timeline. Our solution must bring together lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to reflect the needs of diverse communities as it prioritizes both energy independence and environmental protection.
The 1,000 miles supported today is one step in the right direction. Now, we have more steps to take — 90 more to be exact.
The good news is, the United States Congress is 535 members strong. At present, we are doing everything short of actually fixing the problem; however, with strong commitment from our members, we can build our way out of this.
It’s time to get out of the slow lane on the road to America’s clean energy transition. Meaningful expansion of our nation’s transmission network is possible if we come together in the name of bipartisan action on climate.