Thread by @mclott

[1/17] Thrilled to launch this new report today. Some thoughts below 👇🧵

https://twitter.com/columbiauenergy/status/1338582113902333957

[2/17] Zero-carbon electricity will be the backbone of a net-zero economy. The research is clear - in order to decarbonize the economy at a reasonable cost and within a reasonable time frame, we must rapidly decarbonize and grow the power sector. ⚡️

[3/17] Electricity—how it is generated, moved along the grid, and used—is already undergoing a rapid transformation in the United States. This transition has been supported by steep cost declines for wind, solar, and batteries as well as cheap natural gas. #energytransition

[4/17] But - the transition to a net-zero power sector needs to accelerate to mitigate #climatechange, which is already impacting the health of people around the country and world. To support the transition, we need a strong and flexible power grid.

[5/17] New long-distance, high-voltage transmission will be vital if the 🇺🇸 is to integrate renewables and make the transition affordable. But how can we build the grid we need? A new report by @ColumbiaUEnergy & @PolicyIntegrity explores what we can do NOW

[6/17] Ideally, Congress would take action to overcome the regulatory and commercial barriers that have frustrated long-distance transmission development. However, such action is not guaranteed and may not be realistically expected to occur in a timeframe needed to meet our goals

[7/17] In absence of action by Congress - this paper by seeks to explain steps that the federal government (@energy and @ferc mostly) could take to facilitate development of a future grid that is capable of supporting a reliable, affordable, and zero-carbon power sector.

[8/17] this paper discusses how Section 216 of the Federal Power Act directs @energy to designate national interest energy transmission corridors and authorizes @FERC to issue a federal permit if a state agency impermissibly stalls or rejects a project in a corridor

[9/17] Furthermore, Section 1222 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 authorizes @energy to partner with private entities to develop transmission facilities, which both frees development efforts from state-level regulatory requirements and gives federal eminent domain authority

[10/17] In addition, federal power marketing administrations that market and deliver hydropower generated by federally owned dams have authority to develop new transmission facilities across large swaths of the continental 🇺🇸

[11/17] The paper by @azevin, Sam Walsh, @JMGinNYC, and Isabel Carey outlines the following steps for an administration seeking to construct new, long-distance interstate transmission lines...

[12/17] First - Revitalize section 216 via coordinated efforts by DOE and FERC. would require coordinated efforts by DOE and FERC. Second - FERC should issue new regulations clarifying its permitting process.

[13/17] Third - Revitalize sec 1222 - issuing a RFP for projects that previews a streamlined process of review & implementation. Fourth - Refocus the resources of DOE PMAs on the question of where new transmission would yield cost-effective improvements to system performance.

[14/17] Check out the full set of recommendations in the report published today by @ColumbiaUEnergy and @PolicyIntegrity energypolicy.columbia.edu/research/repor…

[15/17] And check out a recording of our event today with @MichaelGerrard, Sam Walsh, @JMGinNYC, David Hill, @CLaFleurEnergy, Lauren Azar, and @RobGramlichDC.

[16/17]Thank you to the report’s authors @azevin, Sam Walsh, @JMGinNYC, and Isabel Carey @PolicyIntegrity for their work and analysis. Thanks also to the @ColumbiaUEnergy team for their hard work in preparation for today’s launch.

[17/17] And for those who want to to read more on on the backstory on this topic - recommend checking out @russellgold’s book Superpower: One Man's Quest to Transform American Energy smile.amazon.com/dp/1501163590/…