Federal Investment in Clean Energy Requires Local Leadership in Grid Modernization

August 7, 2022, Washington DC – The WATT Coalition applauds today’s passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in the Senate, which includes $370 billion in investments in clean energy. It also directs the Secretary of Energy to “conduct planning, modeling, and analysis regarding interregional electricity transmission and transmission of electricity that is generated by offshore wind,” and include Grid-Enhancing Technologies in that work. 

“We are thrilled the Senate has passed the Inflation Reduction Act and that once again Congress has specifically identified Grid-Enhancing Technologies as an important solution set for clean energy integration,” said Ted Bloch-Rubin, Chair of the WATT Coalition. “GETs can double capacity for renewable energy on the existing grid – with the support for wind and solar deployment in this bill, we’ll need all the delivery capacity we can get. The WATT Coalition hopes that the House passes the bill, and the President signs it into law very soon.” 

“The Inflation Reduction Act is a powerful market signal to develop more renewable energy across America, and we cannot allow the grid to be an obstacle to the energy transition,” said Rob Gramlich, Executive Director of the WATT Coalition. “The WATT Coalition urges governors and public utility commissioners to push utilities to make long-overdue investments in grid optimization and flexibility. Funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act can ensure that local ratepayers see less upfront costs, while upgrades pay for themselves with systemwide benefits. Wind and solar projects are ready to break ground – state leaders can make sure that the grid is ready for them to plug in