Southwest Power Pool said this week that it will work with the U.S. Department of Energy on its Grid Modernization Initiative to improve the reliability and security of the nation’s electricity delivery system.
The initiative is a multi-year blueprint for modernizing the grid, said DOE Secretary Ernest Moniz in a news release.
“Modernizing the U.S. electrical grid is essential to reducing carbon emissions, creating safeguards against attacks on our infrastructure, and keeping the lights on,” he said. “Our Quadrennial Energy Review and Quadrennial Technology Review identified needs and opportunities to invest in the grid. This public-private partnership between our National Laboratories, industry, academia and state and local government agencies will help us further strengthen our ongoing efforts to improve our electrical infrastructure so that it is prepared to respond to the nation’s energy needs for decades to come.”
SPP, a regional transmission organization based in Little Rock, is one of numerous companies and agencies across the company working on the potentially $220 million project. It will be involved in “Project 16: Midwest Interconnection Seams Study,” according to SPP spokesman David Avery.
“With SPP’s recent expansion to the Canadian border, we have a keen interest in the efficient development and operation of the existing seams between the Eastern and Western Interconnections in the U.S.,” said Larry Nickell, SPP vice president of engineering. “The proposed project will explore timely questions about aging infrastructure and enhance existing regional and interregional planning processes. We commend the Department of Energy for funding this important study and look forward to participating.”
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