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PostAugust 6, 2021

The $1 trillion infrastructure bill is a baby step toward the US grid we need

Transmission lines with backdrop of sunset

Any effective plan to tackle climate change hinges on a basic technology: long wires strung across tall towers.

The US needs to add hundreds of thousands of miles of transmission lines in the coming decades to weave together fragmented regional power systems into an interconnected grid capable of supporting a massive influx of renewables.

A national network of short spur lines and long-distance, high-voltage wires would deliver wind, solar and hydroelectric power to where it’s needed when it’s available across the country. It could help provide reliable backup power when heat waves or winter storms cause regional power shortages, and keep up with soaring demands as homes and businesses increasingly come to rely on electricity to power their vehicles, heating systems, and more.

Read the full article at: https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/08/05/1030733/the-1-trillion-infrastructure-bill-is-a-baby-step-toward-the-us-grid-we-need/

Image by: Getty

by MIT Technology Review
Topics
Cities & Planning
Energy
Electrification
Renewable Energy
Finance & Economics
Government & Policy

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