Transmission

This DOE-backed software is helping to unclog the grid

GridUnity’s software can shave 12 months from the sluggish interconnection process that’s stalling clean power. A $50M DOE grant is helping it expand.

By Jeff St. John . 12 November 2024

(Citizen of the Planet/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Podcast

Getting more energy on the wires

Lack of transmission is a massive bottleneck for the energy transition. How do we fix it?

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By Lara Pierpont . 59 min . 3 November 2022
Transmission

Manchin's permitting-reform bill splits Dems, pro-renewables groups

The transmission-buildout process is broken — but is the chance to fix it worth the perks and giveaways to the fossil industry?

By Jeff St. John . 23 September 2022
Emissions reduction

Open-sourcing the grid emissions data needed for 24/7 clean energy

Startup Singularity is sharing data on hourly U.S. power-grid emissions. It wants energy markets, governments and companies like Google and Microsoft to use it — and to disclose their own data too.

By Jeff St. John . 30 August 2022
Transmission

New software can find more room for clean energy on transmission grids

Grid-enhancing technologies include high-tech software that can uncover more interconnection options for new wind and solar power projects.

By Jeff St. John . 23 August 2022
Transmission

How to move more power with the transmission lines we already have

Grid-enhancing technologies enable us to get more out of existing power lines. Here’s an in-depth look at one such technology: dynamic line rating.

By Jeff St. John . 29 July 2022
Transmission

FERC has a new plan to connect clean energy to the grid more quickly

Federal regulators have proposed major reforms to clear huge backlogs of solar, wind and storage projects waiting to interconnect to U.S. power grids.

By Jeff St. John . 20 June 2022
Guides and how-tos

The power grid explained — plus demand response, virtual power plants and more

Canary Media defines the concepts that are key to a clean, distributed electricity system, from "behind the meter" to "balancing the grid."

By Alison F. Takemura . 2 June 2022
Policy & regulation

The US needs to build a bigger, stronger grid. FERC has a plan for that

A new federal proposal would task grid operators, states and utilities with planning a grid that can support clean energy over the long term — and fairly share the costs of building it.

By Jeff St. John . 25 April 2022
Transmission

The US has more clean energy projects planned than the grid can handle

Without major policy reforms and grid upgrades, much of the 1.4-terawatt queue of solar, wind and battery projects may never get built, two new reports find.

By Jeff St. John . 20 April 2022
Utilities

Chart: US utilities are spending less on making electricity and more on getting it to customers

Cheap renewables are a good thing, but customers will likely be stuck with a hefty bill for grid upgrades.

By Jeff St. John, Maria Virginia Olano . 7 January 2022