NCEL Members Visit White House to Improve Grid Reliability and Efficiency

Overview: Launching the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative

On May 28, the White House hosted a Summit on Modernizing the Power Grid, bringing together industry leaders, state legislative champions, advocacy groups, and regulatory officials on the development of grid-enhancing technologies or GETs. 

The event served to launch the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative which aims to bring together states, federal entities, and power sector stakeholders to drive grid adaptation for a clean energy future quickly and cost-effectively. So far, 21 leading states have committed to participating in the initiative. NCEL is excited to continue the conversation with the White House and other key state partners to expand the capacity, reliability, and resilience of the grid. 

Catch Up Quick: Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs) 

GETs are critical to the success of creating a robust, resilient, and efficient grid. Dubbed the energy efficiency tools of the grid, GETs can help increase the capacity of the grid faster and without building new lines. By increasing the capacity of existing lines, the grid can transmit more electricity without the lengthy planning and permitting process required for new transmission build. While construction of new transmission will still be needed to support the U.S. energy transition, these alternative approaches serve an important need, especially in the near term.  

Showcasing State-Level GETs Successes

Ava Gallo, NCEL Climate & Energy Manager, assisted in organizing a legislator panel on state wins for grid-enhancing technologies which included Colorado State Senator Chris Hansen, Utah State Senator Nate Blouin, and Virginia State Delegate Phil Hernandez. 

This panel highlighted the major wins at the state level on transmission policy in the last few sessions including the passage of:

• Colorado S.B.16 (Enacted 2023): Requires the Colorado Electric Transmission Authority to study the need for expanded transmission in the state including by co-locating multiple transmission lines, reconductoring transmission lines; and strategically siting new transmission corridors.
• Utah S.B.191 (Passed Senate 2024): Requires that during transmission expansion or improvement, distribution companies must conduct cost-effectiveness and timetable analyses of GETs integration, and report to the Public Service Commission.
• Virginia H.B.862 (Enacted 2024): Requires an electric utility to include in electric distribution grid planning (i) a comprehensive assessment of the potential application of grid-enhancing technologies and advanced conductors and (ii) if applicable, a detailed explanation of why such technologies or conductors are not included in such plan.

Other key presenters at the summit included U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and White House Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi.

Closing Thoughts: Continuing State Momentum for a Modernized Grid

States continue to lead the charge on transmission development learning from the successes of each other. Ten states introduced at least 18 pieces of GETs legislation this session with Minnesota, Virginia, and Maine enacting laws and many others continuing to move bills through their state chambers. State efforts will be further buoyed by the new federal-state partnership and the existing grant programs originating from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) including the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership (GRIP) program.

To learn more about how your state can modernize its power grid, visit NCEL’s Utilities and Grid webpage and our new Issue Brief on Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs).