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2022
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U.S. "big grid" integration is struggling
In the context of the increasing challenges of climate change, the United States is seeking to integrate the three regional power grid systems into a "large power grid", especially hoping to break the relatively independent status of the Texas power grid as soon as possible. In recent years, problems such as aging power grid equipment and severely backward technology have led to a large-scale power outage crisis in the United States as soon as it encounters extreme weather. Although the United States is a developed country, the power grid has been at the "third world" level for a long time.
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In the context of the increasing challenges of climate change, the United States is seeking to integrate the three regional power grid systems into a "large power grid", especially hoping to break the relatively independent status of the Texas power grid as soon as possible. In recent years, problems such as aging power grid equipment and severely backward technology have led to a large-scale power outage crisis in the United States as soon as it encounters extreme weather. Although the United States is a developed country, the power grid has been at the "third world" level for a long time.
In early May, a $2.6 billion new power line project, "Spirit of the South" (Southern Spirit), was put on the agenda. The project aims to connect the Texas power grid with other states and regions, break the dilemma of "power islands" in Texas for many years, and pave the way for the integration of "large power grid. However, considering the unstable political environment in the United States, large policy changes, and lengthy approval procedures and time, the upgrade and integration of the power grid is still struggling towards a substantive stage.
"Power island" is expected to break the status quo
The Financial Times reported that the "Southern Spirit" project, planned by Pattern Energy, a private independent energy company in the United States, is about 432 kilometers long. When completed, the project will deliver 3 gigawatts of electricity from wind-rich Texas to Mississippi through Louisiana.
The "Southern Spirit" project is expected to be a breakthrough in breaking down Texas's "power islands. Storms hit Texas in February 2021, causing severe failures in the Texas transmission network and several days of power outages in most parts of the state. Since then, Texas has sought to pass legislation to "open" the power grid.
In February this year, U.S. Democratic Congressmen Alexandria Okacio-Cortez and Greg Casal proposed a bill that would connect the Texas power grid to the rest of the country.
Hunter Armitstead, chief executive of the Pattern Energy Company, said: "Although there are four transmission lines in Texas that can be connected to other regions, the capacity is relatively small, totaling less than 1.5 GW. The 'Southern Spirit' will more than double this number."
The "Spirit of the South" project is scheduled to start construction in 2026 and begin operations in 2029, and is currently awaiting approval from the states of Louisiana and Mississippi. Under a Louisiana bill, developers would be prevented from buying land for transmission projects if most of the electricity from new transmission projects is not delivered to users in the state. The Mississippi utility said that as demand for electricity is surging, increasing transmission capacity is necessary.
The Mid-Continental Independent System Operator, which primarily provides power assurance services to parts of the central and eastern United States, is working with Pattern Energy to conduct research and discussions around potential system impacts and costs, not excluding connections through the Mid-Continental Independent System Operator's grid system.
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