The entire infrastructure of our economy depends on a reliable grid. And the work we are doing to decarbonize will only increase demands on the grid moving forward.

So, how do we look into the future? What are we doing to upgrade the grid? To make it stronger and more adaptable? 

And most importantly, how do we get solar and wind energy facilities connected to the grid in a timely manner?

Jay Caspary serves as Vice President at Grid Strategies, a power sector consulting firm based in Washington, DC. 

With 40 years’ experience in transmission planning and renewables integration, Jay provides policy makers, grid planners and utilities with the sound engineering analyses they need to transform our grid for the evolving resource mix.

On this episode of Clean Power Hour, Jay joins Tim to discuss his top three priorities for building a more robust but clean grid, describing his vision for a national macrogrid that makes use of existing infrastructure and grid-enhancing technologies. 

Jay explains the benefits of high-voltage direct current systems, exploring why it makes sense to put HVDC infrastructure underground and why we’re slow to adopt the technology here in the US.

Listen in to understand what’s behind the moratorium on solar at PJM and learn what FERC is doing to reform the transmission planning process and accelerate the decarbonization of the grid.

Key Takeaways

Jay’s career in transmission planning and wind integration

Jay’s top 3 priorities for building a more robust but clean grid

1.     Shared vision of national macrogrid

2.     Take advantage of aging infrastructure

3.     Deploy grid-enhancing technologies

The goals of the DOE’s Building a Better Grid Initiative 

The benefits of high-voltage direct current systems

Why we’re slow to adopt HVDC here in the US

What’s behind the moratorium on solar at PJM

How FERC is reforming the transmission planning process

Why it makes sense to put HVDC infrastructure underground

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Email [email protected]

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]

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