Building Clean Energy Infrastructure Not So Easy

Abstract

Siting clean energy infrastructure including renewable and distributed energy resources (DERs), and transmission and distribution (T&D) grid enhancements is challenging at best. Public policy objectives to deliver zero‐ to low‐carbon energy requires significant capital investment by many market participants and a great deal of time. For example, constructing large, interstate long distance electric transmission lines can take years to complete—sometimes eight to 12 years from concept to in‐service. Whether overhead or underground, transmission lines crossing multiple regulatory jurisdictions or states can take upward of 15 to 20 years. And undergrounding can cost nearly ten times as much as constructing overhead transmission. Planning for the decarbonized electric grid of the future currently preoccupying regulators, lawmakers and policymakers requires sophisticated analysis of the costs and benefits of energy infrastructure investments and deliberate action. Trade‐offs will always be required and there will be winners and losers and some economic dislocation as there is no perfect solution to decarbonizing economies.