Why the US isn't ready for clean energy

Summary

Vermont's green energy efforts face grid capacity challenges, highlighting the need for expanded transmission infrastructure across the US. The nation aims for 75% renewable energy by 2032 and 100% by 2050, requiring significant investment in high-voltage lines to connect distant renewable sources to urban demand centers.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Vermont is a leader in renewable energy, with two-thirds of its electricity coming from renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric plants.
• 🚫 Despite Vermont's green energy efforts, a new solar project was denied due to grid capacity limitations.
• 🔌 The current grid in Vermont can only handle 450 megawatts, which is already being utilized by existing power plants and imports from Canada.
• 🏙️ Major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago rely heavily on power plants located outside their city limits, often using nuclear and natural gas sources.
• 🌳 The process of electricity distribution involves high-voltage transmission lines, substations, and distribution lines that carry power to homes.
• 🌱 Washington, DC, aims to achieve 100% renewable energy sources for electricity by 2032, aligning with national goals to reduce emissions.
• 🌬️ President Biden's plan includes reducing US emissions by 50% by 2030 and having nearly half of US power come from solar by 2050.
• 🚀 The transition to renewable energy will require a significant increase in electricity usage, estimated to be 40-100% more than current consumption.
• 📈 Princeton's model shows that to achieve full renewable energy use by 2050, new high-voltage transmission lines will need to be built, especially in the middle of the US.
• 🌳 The US has significant wind and solar potential in states that account for only 30% of the electricity demand, necessitating efficient transmission systems.
• 💰 Achieving a greener grid will require nearly $320 billion in investments over the next 10 years, highlighting the scale of infrastructure needed.

Q & A

What is the current percentage of renewable energy in Vermont's electricity supply?

Two thirds of Vermont's electricity comes from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, or hydroelectric plants.

What is Vermont's goal for renewable energy by 2032?

Vermont aims to have 75% of its electricity come from renewable energy sources by 2032.

Why was a new solar project in Vermont denied?

The new solar project was denied because the grid in that area is already at its capacity of 450 megawatts, and it would not be able to handle any additional power generated by the project.

What is the significance of high-voltage transmission lines in the context of renewable energy?

High-voltage transmission lines are crucial for transporting electricity from power plants to where it is needed. They are essential for a greener future as they enable the distribution of renewable energy across different regions.

What is the current distribution of power plants in the continental US?

Power plants are predominantly located in areas with high population density, such as New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

What is the national goal regarding renewable energy in the US?

President Biden aims to reduce emissions in the US by 50% by 2030, with nearly half of US power coming from solar plants by 2050.

Why is it necessary to build more transmission lines for a greener grid?

Building more transmission lines is necessary to move electricity from areas with abundant renewable energy resources to areas with high demand, ensuring efficient utilization of renewable energy.

What are the challenges associated with building high-voltage transmission lines?

Challenges include the need for large physical space, potential environmental impacts such as causing wildfires, and the difficulty of acquiring land rights from private landowners.

What is the estimated investment needed for building a new, interconnected, high-voltage grid in the US?

Princeton's study found that it would take nearly $320 billion in investments in the next 10 years to build a new, interconnected, high-voltage grid.

How does the current US energy policy align with the goal of increasing renewable energy sources?

The US is currently on track to have 42% of its energy come from renewables by 2050, and with current proposals turning into real policy, this could increase to closer to 80%.

What is the role of electric cars and heat pumps in the transition to a greener energy future?

Electric cars and heat pumps are part of the transition to a greener energy future by reducing reliance on fossil fuels. They are essential for lowering emissions and increasing the demand for renewable electricity.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 Vermont's Renewable Energy Challenge

Vermont is known for its green energy grid, with two-thirds of its electricity coming from renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric plants. The state aims to increase this to 75% by 2032. Despite the potential for more renewable energy, a new solar project was denied due to the grid's capacity being maxed out at 450 megawatts. The script highlights the need for more renewable energy plants and the infrastructure to support them, such as high-voltage transmission lines. It also discusses the national goal of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030 and the challenges of integrating renewable energy sources, like wind and solar, into the existing power grid. The importance of building transmission lines before power plants is emphasized, as it is a time-consuming process that often faces opposition from landowners.

05:03

🔌 Building a National High-Voltage Grid

The script emphasizes the need for a national approach to building a greener grid in the US. It discusses the importance of constructing more transmission lines to connect renewable energy sources across the country, allowing for efficient power distribution. For instance, solar power generated in Arizona could be used to power Chicago during the day, and wind power from Illinois could power Phoenix at night. The Princeton model suggests that nearly $320 billion would be needed in the next 10 years to build this interconnected high-voltage grid, which is almost as much as the investments in solar and wind plants. The script also mentions the current legislative efforts and the challenges in execution, including the need for significant investments and overcoming regulatory and industry hurdles. The conclusion is that transmission infrastructure is crucial for achieving a clean energy future and decarbonization.

Keywords

💡Renewable Energy

Renewable energy refers to energy sources that can be replenished naturally and sustainably, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. In the context of the video, Vermont is highlighted for deriving two-thirds of its electricity from renewable sources, emphasizing the importance of these resources in achieving a greener energy grid. The video also discusses the national goal of increasing renewable energy usage to reduce emissions and reliance on fossil fuels.

💡Solar Project

A solar project involves the installation of solar panels to harness sunlight and convert it into electricity. The script mentions a denied solar project in Vermont, illustrating the challenges in expanding renewable energy infrastructure despite the state's commitment to green energy. This example underscores the complexities involved in integrating renewable energy sources into existing power grids.

💡Grid Capacity

Grid capacity refers to the maximum amount of electricity that a power grid can handle at any given time. The video script points out that Vermont's grid is already at its capacity of 450 megawatts, which limits the ability to add more power from renewable sources. This concept is crucial in understanding the constraints faced in expanding renewable energy projects and the need for grid upgrades.

💡Transmission Lines

Transmission lines are high-voltage power lines that carry electricity from power plants to substations and ultimately to consumers. The script discusses the need for more transmission lines to accommodate the increased demand for electricity from renewable sources. It also highlights the challenges in building these lines, such as the need for space and the potential environmental impacts.

💡Substation

A substation is a part of an electrical power system where voltage is transformed to lower levels before being distributed to consumers. The video script explains that electricity from power plants is sent through transmission lines to substations, where it is dispersed onto smaller distribution lines. This concept is key to understanding how electricity is managed and delivered to end users.

💡Decarbonization

Decarbonization is the process of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, primarily by shifting from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources. The video script mentions President Biden's goal of reducing emissions in the US by 50% by 2030 and the broader aim of transitioning to renewable energy sources as part of a decarbonized future.

💡Electric Cars

Electric cars are vehicles powered by electric motors and batteries, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and associated emissions. The script discusses the transition from gas cars to electric cars as part of the broader effort to lower emissions and increase the use of electricity in transportation.

💡High-Voltage Transmission Lines

High-voltage transmission lines are used to transmit large amounts of electricity over long distances. The video script emphasizes the need for these lines to facilitate the movement of electricity from renewable energy sources to areas of high demand. It also touches on the challenges in constructing these lines, such as the need for space and insulation.

💡Stranded Generation

Stranded generation refers to power generation capacity that cannot be used due to lack of transmission infrastructure. The script warns against building renewable energy plants without first developing the necessary transmission lines, which could result in stranded generation and wasted resources.

💡Interconnected Grid

An interconnected grid is a network of power grids that are connected, allowing for the transfer of electricity across different regions. The video script suggests that a new, interconnected high-voltage grid is necessary for efficiently distributing electricity from renewable sources across the US, highlighting the importance of this infrastructure in achieving a greener energy future.

💡Investments in Renewable Energy

Investments in renewable energy involve financial resources allocated to develop and expand renewable energy projects and infrastructure. The script mentions the significant investment needed, nearly $320 billion over the next 10 years, to build the necessary transmission lines and renewable energy plants, illustrating the scale of the financial commitment required to achieve a greener energy grid.

Highlights

Vermont has one of the greenest grids in the US, with two-thirds of its electricity from renewable sources.

Vermont's goal is to reach 75% renewable energy by 2032.

Surprisingly, a new solar project in Vermont was denied due to grid capacity limitations.

The US needs more renewable energy plants and an upgraded grid to achieve a greener future.

A map illustrates the density of US population and the location of major power plants.

Washington, DC relies on power from surrounding states, mostly from nuclear and natural gas plants.

The electricity transmission process from power plants to homes involves high-voltage lines and substations.

DC plans for 100% renewable electricity by 2032, aligning with President Biden's national goal to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030.

The transition to renewable energy requires replacing natural gas plants with wind turbines and solar farms.

Increased electricity usage is expected, with a 40-100% rise compared to current consumption.

A Princeton model maps potential locations for wind and solar projects in the continental US, mostly in the middle of the country.

Wind and solar potential is concentrated in states where only 30% of the electricity demand comes from the local population.

High-voltage transmission lines are essential for moving electricity from energy-rich to energy-demand areas.

High-voltage lines require careful spacing for safety and insulation, which can lead to construction challenges.

The construction of transmission lines can be time-consuming, often taking longer than the generation projects themselves.

Experts recommend starting transmission line construction before building renewable energy plants.

An interconnected, high-voltage grid is necessary for efficient nationwide electricity distribution.

Princeton estimates nearly $320 billion in investments are needed over the next 10 years for grid infrastructure.

Current US policy proposals could potentially increase renewable energy sources to 80% by 2050.

Transmission infrastructure is critical for the clean energy future, as decarbonization is not possible without it.

Transcripts

The state of Vermont has one of the greenest grids in the US.

Two thirds of their electricity comes from renewable energy sources,

like solar, wind, or hydroelectric plants.

The current goal is to be at 75% by 2032.

Which is why it was pretty surprising when a new solar project here was denied.

This area doesn’t have a lot of people,

but it does have plenty of potential for renewable energy.

The power plants here, in addition to a regular power supply from Canada,

already put about 450 megawatts of electricity onto the grid —

and by grid, I mean these power lines —

but the grid’s capacity is around… 450 megawatts.

So the grid just wouldn’t be able to handle any more power generated here.

If we want a greener future in the US,

we’ll need to build more renewable energy plants.

But to actually use that electricity, we’ll also need to build more of these.

This is a map of where everyone in the continental US lives;

the density of each county.

Here’s New York City, LA, Chicago…

And here’s where every big power plant is currently.

Appropriately, they tend to be where the people are.

In Washington, DC, where I live, we get nearly all our electricity

from surrounding states’ power plants— mostly nuclear and natural gas.

Electricity goes from the power plant, through big high-voltage transmission lines,

to a substation, where the electricity is dispersed onto smaller,

lower-powered distribution lines, that send it into my house.

Like Vermont, DC also plans to be greener.

The goal is to have 100% renewable sources making our electricity by 2032.

It’s part of a national goal, too.

President Biden wants to reduce emissions in the US 50% by 2030,

with nearly half of US power coming from solar plants by 2050.

That means switching out those natural gas plants for wind turbines.

Coal plants, for solar farms.

Lowering emissions also means switching from gas cars to electric cars.

Heating our buildings not with natural gas, but with electric heat pumps.

Cooking on electric stoves.

Basically, we’re going to be using a lot more electricity:

Anywhere from 40-100% more than we currently use.

So, back to the map.

If we’re going to replace all these polluting energy plants,

we can’t just build a wind turbine in their place.

They need to be where it's, you know, windy.

This is a model, created by Princeton,

mapping out possible places in the continental US

where wind and solar projects could, in theory, be built.

Aside from some offshore wind farms, it's mostly in the middle of the US.

Another study found that these states have most of the wind and solar potential,

yet the people living there would only make up 30% of the electricity demand.

In a decarbonized future, we’re going to need to get electricity from here to here.

And, we’re going to move a lot of it.

That’s where high-voltage transmission lines come in.

ROB GRAMLICH: I think the infrastructure is the most important thing.

It doesn't get a lot of attention but it really is the key.

This is where the US currently has high-voltage transmission lines.

The Princeton model shows this is where new lines will need to be built

if the US uses all renewable energy by 2050.

But it’s not a simple process.

Every wire in your house has plastic over it, because if two electrical lines get too close…

But high-voltage power lines are the bare active wire. No plastic.

They’re insulated by the air.

Basically, if they’re kept far enough apart from each other, it’s safe.

But they also have to be kept far away from… everything.

Trees included.

This is actually how some of the California wildfires were started:

Trees coming in contact with the super-big high-voltage transmission lines.

And those are what we’ll need more of,

as we lengthen the distance from energy source to energy need.

We’ll also need to make many current ones even bigger.

Because bigger means more power.

Physically, the cables are thicker —

the bigger the cable, the more power can run through them.

And because they’re bigger, they have to be really far apart for insulation,

and built higher up.

It makes them kind of a pain to build --

partly because of how large they are,

but also how much private land they have to cross.

GRAMLICH: Very often, the developer can get 99% of the landowners to agree,

but then there's that last 1%,

and that can take forever, and can crater the whole thing.

So experts say we should start building now, even before we build the plants.

GRAMLICH: You can do a generation project in a year.

The transmission, three, if you're lucky, but it can go over ten.

We don't want to do this in a reactive mode, where we build a lot of stranded generation.

We want to proactively build the transmission to where we know the resources are.

And the thing about wind and solar resources is, we know where they are.

A greener grid in the US means thinking nationally:

Building more transmission lines,

so when it’s sunny in Arizona, it can power Chicago.

And at night, Illinois wind can power Phoenix.

To do that efficiently, the US will need a new, interconnected, high-voltage grid.

Princeton found it would take nearly $320 billion in investments in the next 10 years.

Almost as much as investments in solar and wind plants themselves.

Congress is working on an infrastructure bill that contains some funding,

but really only a fraction of what’s needed.

GRAMLICH: I'm optimistic about our ability to do it, because we have done it before.

I am nervous about the execution,

between legislation, regulation, and industry follow-through.

The US is currently on track to have 42% of our energy come from renewables by 2050.

If current proposals turn into real policy, we could be closer to 80%.

But just making greener electricity isn’t enough.

We have to be able to move it.

GRAMLICH: Transmission is important for the clean energy future.

We're just not going to decarbonize without it.