Our Gameplan

Challenge: Reactive transmission planning leads to delays and higher costs.

Solution: Require utilities to assess and report on transmission congestion every two years, following Colorado’s model. This transparency enables private sector solutions and ensures efficient energy delivery.

Challenge: Piecemeal planning fails to address long-term grid demands.

Solution: Conduct comprehensive state transmission studies beyond integrated resource plans (IRPs), as seen in Colorado’s 2023 legislation. These studies support economic growth, grid reliability, and cost reduction. Data center growth is forecast to exceed $150 billion through 2028.

Challenge: Lengthy permitting delays hinder transmission development.

Solution: Allow transmission lines along existing rights-of-way (e.g., highways, railroads) to expedite approvals and minimize environmental impacts. Wisconsin and Minnesota have already adopted this model.

Challenge: Reconductoring (upgrading power lines) faces unnecessary permitting delays.

Solution: Exempt reconductoring projects from additional permitting, as implemented in California, to accelerate infrastructure upgrades and lower consumer costs.

Challenge: Utility decisions in regional transmission organizations (RTOs) often lack public visibility.

Solution: Require utilities to disclose RTO voting decisions, as proposed in Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, to improve accountability and ensure cost-effective grid solutions.ere