Optimizing Grid Infrastructure and Proactive Planning to Support Load Growth and Public Policy Goals

The US power sector is experiencing unprecedented load growth, requiring the grid to expand more than five times faster than in the previous two decades. To address this, the report recommends maximizing existing grid value through grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) and demand-side flexibility, accelerating connections via 'energy parks' and streamlined interconnection processes, and adopting proactive, scenario-based planning. It also suggests targeted affordability measures for low-income customers and specialized rate designs for large loads to prevent cost-shifting and stranded-asset risks.

• US electricity supply must expand more than five times faster than it did in the prior two decades to meet demand driven by data centers, manufacturing reshoring, and electrification.
• Grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) and advanced transmission technologies (ATTs) can be deployed in less than a year and typically increase existing grid capacity by 20% to 30%.
• The report proposes a "loading order" for grid expansion that prioritizes increasing existing capacity via GETs and advanced conductors before constructing new greenfield transmission lines.
• Inefficient interregional trade in North America results in significant costs; correcting uneconomic flows could yield up to $3 billion per year in power system cost savings.
• Proactive, scenario-based planning can reduce right-of-way needs by up to 50%, total customer costs by approximately 20%, and generator interconnection costs by over 50% compared to incremental approaches.
• The report identifies a significant untapped potential for load flexibility in the US, estimated at nearly 200 GW, which could help accommodate new large customers.

APA

Pfeifenberger, J., Lam, L., Graham, K., Northrup, N., & Hledik, R. (2025). Optimizing Grid Infrastructure and Proactive Planning to Support Load Growth and Public Policy Goals. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/grid-utilization-planning.pdf

Chicago

Pfeifenberger, Johannes, Long Lam, Kailin Graham, Natalie Northrup, and Ryan Hledik. Optimizing Grid Infrastructure and Proactive Planning to Support Load Growth and Public Policy Goals. Clean Air Task Force, 2025. https://www.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/grid-utilization-planning.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Pfeifenberger |first1=Johannes |last2=Lam |first2=Long |last3=Graham |first3=Kailin |last4=Northrup |first4=Natalie |last5=Hledik |first5=Ryan |title=Optimizing Grid Infrastructure and Proactive Planning to Support Load Growth and Public Policy Goals |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=July 2025 |url=https://www.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/grid-utilization-planning.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{pfeifenberger2025optimizing, author = {Pfeifenberger, Johannes and Lam, Long and Graham, Kailin and Northrup, Natalie and Hledik, Ryan}, title = {{Optimizing Grid Infrastructure and Proactive Planning to Support Load Growth and Public Policy Goals}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://www.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/grid-utilization-planning.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }