WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security held a hearing today with state utility regulators to discuss challenges to reliable and affordable electricity. Following is a statement from Ray Long, President and CEO of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE):

“ACORE appreciates the Subcommittee’s focus on the critical need for affordable and reliable electricity. The good news is that clean energy checks both of those boxes, particularly when paired with an upgraded grid.

“We’re at the beginning of an explosion of growth in electricity demand caused by the massive investments in manufacturing, data centers, AI, hydrogen, and overall electrification. These projects will help to supercharge our economy, create jobs, and position the United States as a global leader across a range of technologies. It is the wires and grid upgrades that we’re planning to build that will enable all of this.

“The essential role that transmission plays in ensuring grid reliability cannot be overstated. Just recently, during Winter Storm Gerri, American homes and businesses were able to avoid power outages largely due to transmission lines that imported power from less afflicted areas.

“Expanded transmission lines between grid regions can also save consumers money. A recent ACORE, Grid Strategies analysis showed how increased interregional transmission between the Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern grids could save more than $15 billion by reducing the need for power plant construction, while also lowering energy costs by over $1 billion per year by allowing more affordable power to flow across a broader geographical area.

“ACORE looks forward to working with Subcommittee staff on measures to ensure that our nation builds the clean energy and transmission needed to enable a reliable and affordable grid.”

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About ACORE:
For over 20 years, the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) has been the nation’s leading voice on the issues most essential to renewable energy expansion. ACORE unites finance, policy, and technology to accelerate the transition to a renewable energy economy. For more information, please visit www.acore.org.

Media Contacts:
Alex Hobson
Sr. Vice President, Communications
American Council on Renewable Energy
hobson@acore.org | 202.830.3592 (o) | 202.594.0706 (c)

Dylan Helms
Associate, Communications
American Council on Renewable Energy
helms@acore.org | 202.935.6491 (o) | 727.290.8804 (c)

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https://acore.org/news/acore-statement-on-house-energy-commerce-hearing-to-ensure-a-reliable-and-affordable-grid/