Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #FreeSeams
Most recents (4)
happy friday night, I'm going to tweet about #electricity #transmission for a while. Facts, opinions, and ideas, motivated by BIB, BBB and SITE b/c Congress has THREE opportunities to get transmission development kickstarted. Here we go.
As a reminder, and for anyone new to the transmission black hole,
Transmission is enabling infrastructure for fast and fair decarbonization. Necessary but not sufficient.
niskanencenter.org/transmission-i…
Transmission is enabling infrastructure for fast and fair decarbonization. Necessary but not sufficient.
niskanencenter.org/transmission-i…
A Macrogrid -- nation spanning, interconnected infrastructure -- is the dream/ideal.
niskanencenter.org/america-needs-…
Not every decarb study concludes with a Macrogrid, but every macrogrid study concludes with a macrogrid, so that's something.
niskanencenter.org/america-needs-…
Not every decarb study concludes with a Macrogrid, but every macrogrid study concludes with a macrogrid, so that's something.
@NREL just dropped a new draft of its missing grid modernization study.
- Seams returns >2 years after Trump appointees squelched it
- 2 months after @INVW exposed their meddling
- And 1 month after @HouseScience told @SecBrouillette to #FreeSeams.
THREAD
theatlantic.com/politics/archi…
- Seams returns >2 years after Trump appointees squelched it
- 2 months after @INVW exposed their meddling
- And 1 month after @HouseScience told @SecBrouillette to #FreeSeams.
THREAD
theatlantic.com/politics/archi…
The #FreeSeams study projected that building a national power grid would cut costs + carbon by killing off coal and boosting wind & solar. The new @NREL Seams ordered by @Energy Dept politicos adds scenarios that "dilute" those findings. 2/7
nrel.gov/analysis/seams…
nrel.gov/analysis/seams…
@NREL Seams' new DOE-approved scenarios assume:
- higher costs for power line construction
- lower fossil fuel prices, or
- limited retirement of coal generating stations
Each of those factors make long-distance power transmission look less cost-effective. 3/7
- higher costs for power line construction
- lower fossil fuel prices, or
- limited retirement of coal generating stations
Each of those factors make long-distance power transmission look less cost-effective. 3/7
On August 14th, California electricity grid had blackouts that lasted for ~75 minutes. In round numbers, the grid was 1 gigawatt short. Thus, the blackouts. But there were lots of gigawatts around and available. Lots.
Thread/
Thread/
I checked in with the Texas grid. At that moment. It had > 5 gigawatts of surplus capacity. Its prices were about $28/mwh (vs. ~$750 in California.) So, lots of electricity at a very reasonable price. 
Meanwhile, the giant SPP grid (New Mex --> Nebraska--> Arkansas) was having a windy day. Prices at the time of the blackout were about $25/mwh.
With the #macrogrid the situation we are currently experiencing in the west would be a nonevent. #FreeSeams
This gif shows how the interconnections can help each other get through peak load conditions. We have the technology. We can do this.
I see you out there @GruchallaKenny! Take a bow for your amazing visualizations.
