4 big steps to meet America’s growing energy needs

Source: As seen in our paid article in Axios
Date: Sept. 10, 2024

If the U.S. wants to lead the AI revolution, grow the economy and meet climate goals, we need to renew our focus on building energy infrastructure.

The background: America’s modern economy with advanced manufacturing practices and new data-intensive sectors is demanding more and more energy.

But the country isn’t building the infrastructure to move energy where it’s needed.

The challenge: There’s debate around which energy source is the right one to generate affordable, 24/7 energy and reach net zero.

It’s a question best answered with “all of the above,” but differing and hardened perspectives are driving a permitting and legal gridlock that results in none of the above — a hard “no” that means zero progress toward either goal.
These challenges are particularly stark in building pipelines and transmission lines to transport critically needed energy across the country, to power data centers, for example.

Key numbers:

10 years: It takes an average of 10 years to build new power lines in the U.S.
2 to 8.5 years: Meanwhile, greenfield interstate pipeline projects completed in the last five years took anywhere from 2 to 8.5 years to reach in-service, according to ARBO, an energy infrastructure analytics firm.

Next steps: To keep up with the country’s energy needs, we need to:

Say yes to progress. Producing and providing energy is a complex issue that requires stakeholders to compromise on practical solutions. Too often, we have a tendency to fall into the either-or camp of renewable power or conventional energy in an attempt to find the perfect approach. This thinking stalls progress.
Say yes to a smart energy transition. Meeting America’s growing energy needs and climate goals will require more renewables, more responsibly produced natural gas and oil, more carbon capture, and more energy efficiency and innovation.
Say yes to a regional approach. One energy source will not work everywhere. Each U.S. region faces unique energy challenges, and meeting their needs requires a varied strategy recognizing the region’s economic health and natural resources.
Say yes to permitting reform. Additional reforms are required to achieve more efficient, transparent and cooperative review and approval permitting processes for linear infrastructure. This includes addressing how electric transmission is reviewed and approved, getting Congress to clarify statutory intent around scope and judicial timelines, and clarifying the roles of the states and federal government.

The takeaway: Saying “yes” to these four steps will allow industry to build projects that support access to affordable energy, bolster the economy, and reach climate goals.