States participating in the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative have committed to supporting the adoption of advanced grid solutions that expand capacity and add capabilities to existing and new transmission and distribution lines.

Streamlining and accelerating permitting is just one of the potential uses DOE envisions for AI to accelerate the U.S. power system’s transition to 100% clean energy and the modern, efficient, secure grid needed to reach that goal by 2035.

As utilities and regulators face unprecedented growth in power demand, figuring out how to plan and finance distribution systems has become a fast-moving target, according to speakers at the GridWise Alliance gridCONNEXT conference.

The use of hydrogen, both for transportation fuel and blended into natural gas, is a hot topic among engineers and power producers.

Parag Mitra of EPRI warned that the growth of data centers and cryptocurrency mining has created new risks for system modelers.

Load flexibility is the fastest and cheapest way to prepare for rising electricity demand, panel participants at a CEC-EPRI conference said.

To decarbonize homes in low-income communities, agencies need to remove administrative barriers, consider all types of housing and prepare for a hotter world, experts said.

Nine of the world's largest makers of building heating and cooling equipment have signed on to support California's goal of having 6 million new electric heat pumps by 2030.