U.S. Needs 54.5 TW-Miles of Transmission by 2035 to Support Clean Energy Growth, DOE Study Finds.

The US Department of Energy’s National Transmission Needs Study has found that the U.S. will need to add 54.5 TW-miles of within-region transmission by 2035 under future scenarios with moderate load but high clean energy assumptions. These scenarios are the most likely power sector future given recently enacted laws. Interregional transfer capacity for electricity between regions would need to increase by nearly 125 GW. The study also identified an immediate need for more transmission infrastructure due to delays and increased costs to interconnect new utility-scale generators and price differences for wholesale electricity across geographic locations. While the study does not identify specific solutions for assessed transmission needs, a separate DOE study, the National Transmission Planning Study, will identify potential transmission solutions to meet near- and long-term (through 2050) transmission needs. The findings are expected to inform DOE’s work to implement the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, and support the potential designation of National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors.