WTAS: Fedorchak’s High-Capacity Grid Act gains broad support from tech and energy leaders

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak's (R-ND) High-Capacity Grid Actis drawing strong support from leading voices across the technology, energy, and infrastructure sectors. The legislation will help modernize America's transmission system by requiring the use of best-available transmission conductors for new interstate transmission lines and rebuilds.

As Fedorchak highlighted upon introducingthe bill, "Forecasts indicate the United States will need at least 100 GW of new power in the next five years-more than we're anticipated to bring online. To meet this record demand, we need to optimize our existing infrastructure, which is exactly what the High-Capacity Grid Act does."

Here's what they're saying:

Google Global Head, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Karan Bhatia:

"To maintain America's leadership in AI, its infrastructure must match our ambition. We support Rep. Fedorchak's High-Capacity Grid Act because it will modernize the power grid. By swapping old wires for high-performance conductors, we can maximize the capacity of our existing infrastructure in months-powering the future economy and ensuring the benefits of AI reach everyone."

TechNet President and CEO Linda Moore:

"Maintaining America's competitive edge requires the power and infrastructure to support innovation. The High-Capacity Grid Act takes an important steptoward strengthening our grid by ensuring utilities use the most advanced transmission technologies available. We commend Congresswoman Fedorchak for introducing this legislation to reduce costs for Americans, make our energy grid stronger, and help keep the United States competitive in the global race for innovation."

ClearPath Action CEO Jeremy Harrell:

"America needs a modernized, high-capacity grid to meet the demands of a growing economy and keep energy affordable for households and businesses. The High-Capacity Grid Act, led by Rep. Fedorchak (R-ND), helps position the United States to maximize existing grid infrastructure by deploying advanced American transmission technologies that deliver more reliable and efficient power. We commend this effort to unlock greater grid capacity, strengthen our energy backbone, and let American energy move."

Clean Energy Buyers Alliance (CEBA):

"As electricity demand increases, it is vitally important that policymakers ensure that existing and new transmission lines are as efficient as possible. Deploying the most cutting-edge transmission conductors is key to quickly and safely moving more power along existing rights-of-way. We applaud Rep. Julie Fedorchak for introducing the High-Capacity Grid Act to help set new standards to get these technologies into the U.S. market. We look forward to working with her office to push policies that make deployment of advanced technologies the new baseline."

Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) Executive Vice President, Global Public Policy & Government Affairs, Paul Lekas:

"Rep. Fedorchak's High-Capacity Grid Act is the kind of pro-growth, pro-consumer, and pro-safety legislation that America needs to solve 21st century energy challenges. By focusing on maximizing transmission capacity, this common sense approach will ensure the power grid resilient and efficient enough to protect consumers from higher costs while powering the transmission needs of the information economy."

National Electric Contractors Association (NECA) CCO Marco Giamberardino:

"NECA contractors are on the front lines of America's transmission build-out, and we see firsthand what happens when utilities rebuild lines with yesterday's technology. The High-Capacity Grid Act gives FERC the tools to ensure that every new line and every rebuild delivers maximum capacity, reduced sag, and improved wildfire resilience while also protecting ratepayers from bearing the cost of underbuilt infrastructure that will need to be upgraded again in just a few years."

Conservative Energy Network (CEN) CEO John Szoka:

"The High-Capacity Grid Act is a practical, forward-looking step toward getting more out of the grid than we already have by encouraging the use of advanced transmission technologies that can carry more power with greater efficiency. Congresswoman Fedorchak's bill helps address rising demand while keeping costs in check for American families and businesses. At a time of growing electricity demand, the High-Capacity Grid Act is the kind of smart, cost-conscious approach we need."

Background on the High-Capacity Grid Act:

The cost of transmission is the biggest driverof increasing utility rates. According to a Brattle study and the Energy Information Administration, transmission costs have increased 181 percent since 2005. At the same time, generation costs have decreased 35 percent.