THE U.S. NEEDS NEW WIRES

WIRES to Secretary Chu: Don't Forget Electric Transmission Infrastructure
May 26, 2011 (WIRES, Working group for Investment in Reliable and Economic electric Systems)

"…[A letter] to U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu… expressed concern that the recently-issued Strategic Plan of the U.S. Department of Energy, in stating its goals for ‘modernizing’ the electric grid, altogether ignores the need to upgrade and expand America’s high-voltage electric transmission system."

WIRES’ letter to Secretary Chu,…indicates that the electric transmission industry and capital markets are prepared to marshal resources and expertise in pursuit of a stronger grid. It points out, however, that there remain serious barriers to planning and constructing the most efficient transmission system for the nation’s 21st Century requirements…"

While the New Energy industries consider it of paramount importance, it apparently remains a question in Secretary Chu's mind (click to enlarge)

[Jolly Hayden, President, WIRES:] “The Department's leadership is critical to advancing a national policy that favors responsible expansion of the transmission grid. WIRES encourages the Department to explicitly champion policies that remove barriers to grid expansion and upgrades.”

"In encouraging the Department to champion improvements in the planning and regulation of transmission projects, the letter cited two recent studies sponsored by WIRES that illustrate the benefits of transmission – a study released this month by WIRES showing that transmission initiatives could yield $30-$40 billion in annual economic activity that supports 150,000-200,000 new full-time jobs in each of the next 20 years, and another study released in January describing the use of smart technologies, including synchrophasors, to improve performance of the transmission grid."