ASCE cited factors like extreme weather, transformer shortages and limited transmission capacity. Demand is also surging; data centers and EVs alone will require 35 GW of electricity by 2030. (That’s more than double the 2022 levels.)
Consequently, transmission capacity must double to keep pace – and that's not just a technical problem but a planning problem too.
Despite these critical needs, grid investments are not keeping pace with demand, even though they have increased. FERC data shows a 12% rise in annual utility spending from 2003 to 2023, largely driven by infrastructure investment. The IIJA's $73 billion for grid modernization and transmission operators’ multi-billion dollar transmission projects are positive steps towards a resilient energy future.
But these slow, incremental steps aren't enough.
We have to embrace a more proactive strategy that prioritizes grid enhancements to increase capacity in the short-term, complementing long-term efforts to build out new transmission lines. The real test of America’s energy infrastructure plan will be whether we can build a grid that adapts in real time, down to local conditions.
At Gridraven, we’re building tools to see what’s coming. Our dynamic line ratings (DLR) technology uses machine learning and high-resolution weather data to understand how much power existing lines can safely carry, which changes with temperature and wind.
Unlike traditional DLR solutions, Gridraven’s Claw is hardware-free and can anticipate wind and weather events that affect individual power lines with forecasting accuracy multiple days ahead. This allows utilities to unlock significant transmission capacity for day-ahead energy markets without costly new construction or sensors.
To ace the next test — the U.S. needs to stop reacting to grid stress and start building resilience. That starts with smarter planning, better forecasting, and leveraging the grid we already have.
