Prerequisites: None

Exam Type: No Exam

Interstate high-capacity electric transmission is the backbone of our nation’s energy system. Expanding the transmission network increases the system’s capacity to deliver clean energy that can meet growing demand from electric vehicles, industrial-scale computing facilities, and manufacturing.

But building new transmission can upset the industry’s balance of power. The power sector is dominated by utilities, state-backed companies that have monopolies over power delivery. New market entrants may undercut utility-owned power plants and diminish utility control over our energy system. Utilities have an outsized role in determining how the transmission network expands.

Building new transmission lines is also subject to multiple layers of government oversight. Federal and state utility laws and environmental permitting regimes stand in the way of system expansion.

Given these dynamics, it’s not surprising that the electric power industry has been slow to build new transmission lines.

Our reading group will diagnose the challenge of expanding the network, analyze reform proposals, and learn from experience. For three of our sessions, we will be joined by Michael Skelly, subject of the book Power Lines by Russell Gold and CEO of Grid United, a leading transmission developer.

Note: This reading group will meet on the following dates: TBD.