Castor, Tonko, Casten, Heinrich, Smith Urge FERC To Help Deploy Advanced Grid Technologies

WASHINGTON – On Thursday, Chair Kathy Castor of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, along with Rep. Paul Tonko, Rep. Sean Casten, Sen. Martin Heinrich, and Sen. Tina Smith, sent a letter urging Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Richard Glick to support the deployment of advanced transmission technologies to combat the climate crisis and improve grid reliability.

“We urge you to promote the deployment of strategies that would help move more clean electricity over the existing electric grid and would complement your efforts on transmission planning, cost allocation, and generator interconnection,” the letter reads. “These commercially available advanced transmission technologies include sensor and software solutions, like dynamic line ratings and topology optimization software, as well as hardware solutions, like advanced power flow controllers and advanced conductors.”

The letter urges FERC to review existing incentives and correct disincentives for the deployment of several advanced transmission technologies, including:

• Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) systems, which use sensors to provide real-time line information;
• Topology Optimization Software, which assists system operators in minimizing congestion and improving efficiency on existing grid assets;
• Advanced Power Flow Controllers, which allow operators to change the direction power flows on existing transmission lines; and
• Advanced conductors, which are high-voltage, modernized power lines that can help reduce line losses by 25-40%;

“While advanced transmission technologies can sometimes be overlooked, they provide near-term options for climate mitigation and resilience as we continue work on larger challenges like resolving interconnection queues, expanding regional electricity markets, and building new transmission lines,” the letter reads.

The full text of the letter is available here.

Background:

• In June of 2020, the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Democrats released the majority staff report Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America. This report provides a roadmap for Congress—a Climate Crisis Action Plan—to build a prosperous, clean energy economy that values workers, advances environmental justice, and is prepared to meet the challenges of the climate crisis.
• House Democrats have already passed more than 375 of the recommendations in the Climate Crisis Action Plan, and have successfully worked to turn over 200 of them into law.

 
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