Transforming the Grid: The Push for Advanced Transmission Technologies

This article is part of MACo’s weekly Policy Deep Dive series, in which expert policy analysts explore and explain the day’s top county policy issues. Read all of MACo’s Policy Deep Dives.

The Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP) has triggered growing alarm among residents, community organizations, and local businesses, who fear the environmental, economic, and social disruptions the project could bring to their neighborhoods.

As previously reported on Conduit Street, the project involves constructing a 500,000-volt transmission line stretching approximately 70 miles through northern Baltimore County and Carroll County to an existing station in southern Frederick County.

PJM, the regional transmission organization overseeing wholesale electricity in parts of 13 states, including Maryland, determined that system reinforcements and a new overhead transmission line in Maryland’s Piedmont Plateau region are necessary to address significant system overloads. Accordingly, the Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) proposed the MPRP.

While the MPRP has sparked significant concern among residents and local stakeholders, it also highlights a broader challenge faced by the US energy grid. The rising electricity demand, driven by advancements in data centers, artificial intelligence, and domestic manufacturing, underscores the urgent need to modernize our grid infrastructure.

The challenges in Maryland reflect a broader national crisis. An aging energy grid is increasingly ill-equipped to handle the surging demand, especially from renewable sources.

This outdated infrastructure exacerbates grid congestion and burdens consumers with higher costs, highlighting an urgent need for innovative solutions to bolster grid capacity and ensure reliable energy delivery. Transitioning from traditional large-scale infrastructure projects like the MPRP to advanced transmission technologies (ATTs) could offer a pathway to achieving these goals more efficiently and with fewer disruptions.

Federal and state-level initiatives are beginning to recognize the potential of ATTs, which can significantly increase the power-carrying capacity of existing lines and reduce the need for new construction, as seen in states like Montana and Minnesota.

Additionally, 136 legislators from 37 states, including Maryland State Senator Shelly Hettleman, submitted comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) advocating for advanced transmission technologies, representing the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, a division of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Introduction

The US energy grid faces increasing pressure due to rising electricity demand from data centers, artificial intelligence, and domestic manufacturing. This growing demand underscores the urgent need to modernize the grid and ensure it efficiently and reliably handles future energy needs.

Current Challenges

The aging infrastructure of the US energy grid struggles to handle the rising flow of electricity, particularly from renewable sources like solar and wind power. This inefficiency drives significant congestion, costing consumers an estimated $20.8 billion in added costs. Grid planners have nearly doubled their electricity demand forecast over the next five years, making innovative solutions essential.

Technological Solutions

Federal and state governments increasingly focus on ATTs to boost grid capacity and address these challenges. ATTs, including grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) and advanced conductors, offer a way to increase the power-carrying capacity of existing transmission lines more quickly and cost-effectively than building new infrastructure.

The US Department of Energy estimates that deploying ATTs could save up to $35 billion in transmission and distribution costs while enhancing grid resilience.

The Role of Advanced Conductors

Advanced conductors, stronger and more efficient than traditional wires, can carry 50 to 110 percent more power using existing towers and rights-of-way. Nationwide deployment of these conductors could quadruple transmission capacity by 2035, saving up to $85 billion in system costs.

These technologies increase capacity and improve the grid’s overall reliability, which is crucial as the country shifts towards a more renewable energy mix.

State-Level Initiatives

Maryland has not enacted specific policies mandating the deployment of ATTs in the same proactive manner as states like Montana, Arizona, Maine, Minnesota, New York, and Virginia.

These states employ various strategies, such as mandating utilities incorporate ATTs in their planning processes. For example, Minnesota’s approach requires utilities to identify grid congestion points and develop mitigation plans using GETs.

Federal Support and Legislative Actions

On the federal level, the Biden administration, along with FERC, has advanced the deployment of ATTs through initiatives like the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative and FERC Order 1920. These efforts require grid operators to consider GETs in their long-term transmission planning, ensuring that the grid evolves to meet future demands.

Potential to Replace Large Infrastructure Projects

Projects like the Piedmont Reliability Project, which involves building new transmission lines to support increased electricity demand in the Piedmont region, illustrate the traditional approach to grid expansion. However, by deploying ATTs, utilities could achieve the same, if not better, outcomes with significantly less investment and disruption.

  • Increased Capacity Without New Lines: ATTs enable utilities to enhance the capacity of existing transmission lines, eliminating the need to construct new ones. This capability can directly replace the primary goal of projects like Piedmont, which aims to increase grid capacity in a growing region.
  • Faster Implementation: Deploying ATTs requires less time than planning, permitting, and constructing new transmission lines. This speed allows utilities to respond more quickly to increasing demand and evolving energy needs, making ATTs a more agile solution.
  • Cost Savings: The costs associated with large infrastructure projects often run into the billions, with additional expenses related to land acquisition, environmental impact mitigation, and community opposition. In contrast, ATTs can be implemented at a fraction of the cost, offering significant savings for utilities and consumers.
  • Reduced Environmental and Community Impact: Large infrastructure projects like Piedmont often face opposition due to environmental impact and disruption to local communities. By enhancing existing infrastructure with ATTs, utilities can avoid many of these issues, leading to smoother implementation and less public resistance.

Conclusion:

Enhancing grid capacity through advanced technologies and strategic projects like the Piedmont Reliability Project represents a comprehensive approach to addressing the US energy grid’s challenges.

By increasing transmission efficiency, reducing congestion, and supporting renewable energy integration, these initiatives enable the US to meet growing electricity demands while ensuring a resilient and reliable energy future. State and federal actions remain crucial in unlocking the full potential of ATTs and strategic infrastructure projects, paving the way for a grid that can power the nation’s economic and technological ambitions.

Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.