NEMA Applauds House Passage of High-Capacity Grid Act, Urges Senate Action to Modernize America’s Transmission System

ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) today applauded House passage of H.R. 6633, the High-Capacity Grid Act, legislation introduced by Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R-N.D.) that will speed modernization of America's transmission system by requiring certain utilities to use "best-available" conductor technology for new and rebuilt interstate electric transmission lines under FERC jurisdiction.

"To meet the needs of the 21st-century economy, America needs to generate more electricity and move it by pursuing power transmission solutions that will make the grid more efficient and resilient," said NEMA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Will Hupman. "Advanced conductors, made by American manufacturers, are a proven technology that can increase transmission capacity, reduce line losses and improve grid efficiency without requiring the construction of entirely new transmission corridors. The High-Capacity Grid Act would help accelerate deployment of these technologies and deliver greater capacity, reliability and value for American households and businesses."

NEMA commends Rep. Fedorchak for her leadership on the bill, which reflects her technical expertise in transmission system planning and operations gained from her years of service on the North Dakota Public Service Commission.

Driven by additional computing infrastructure, electrification, and accelerating reindustrialization, economy-wide electricity demand is expected to increase by as much as 55% by 2050, according to a recent NEMA analysis. Advanced conductors and other grid-enhancing technologies like dynamic line ratings, power flow controllers, and topology optimization software offer a faster, lower-cost path to new capacity than building new transmission corridors, while reducing line losses, improving reliability, and facilitating the interconnection of new generating resources and large loads.

NEMA has long supported policies that accelerate the deployment of grid-enhancing technologies and strengthen America's transmission infrastructure. NEMA urges the Senate to build on the House's bipartisan momentum by introducing and swiftly passing companion legislation to the High-Capacity Grid Act.

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About NEMA

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) represents over 300 electrical equipment manufacturers that make safe, reliable, and efficient products and technologies that power, connect, and light our world. Together, our members contribute a full 1% of U.S. GDP and directly provide over 590,000 American jobs, adding more than $375 billion to the U.S. economy. Learn more at makeitelectric.org

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