Adding to the Conversation: Modernizing the Transmission Grid with Advanced Conductors
James Richmond’s recent opinion piece in Utility Dive, “Supercharging America’s Power Grid from the Demand Side,” brings forward a critically important perspective. As CEO of e2Companies, Mr. Richmond offers an insightful and timely reminder that innovative demand-side strategies - particularly the deployment of microgrids and AI-powered energy management - can play a transformative role in easing the burden on America’s aging electrical grid.
His engineering analogies and forward-thinking call to modernize grid architecture from the demand side resonate deeply with all of us working to address the urgent and growing gap between power supply and power demand. Indeed, the growing strain from electrification, the rise of AI and data centers, and increased intermittent renewable generation call for decisive action. We commend Mr. Richmond’s dedication to the resilience and sustainability of the U.S. energy system.
In that spirit, we would like to add to the discussion by highlighting a complementary strategy that focuses on modernizing the transmission side of the equation - not by building entirely new corridors, but by upgrading what we already have with Advanced Conductors. This approach, recently championed by the Energy Institute at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business in their 2024 paper, “Accelerating Transmission Expansion by Using Advanced Conductors in Existing Right-of-Way,” offers a scalable, cost-effective, and near-term solution to many of the same challenges Mr. Richmond so clearly outlines.
The Other Half of the Equation: Transmission Modernization
While distributed energy resources (DERs) and microgrids can help manage local reliability and load, the U.S. grid will continue to rely heavily on its long-distance, high-voltage transmission network to move bulk power across regions - especially in light of growing interregional capacity needs and the integration of remote renewable resources. Unfortunately, as Mr. Richmond rightly points out, that transmission system is antiquated, congested, and woefully inadequate for the demands of the 21st century.
Building new transmission corridors is a painfully slow and expensive process. Permitting, siting, and public acceptance can delay projects for a decade or more. But what if we could double the capacity of our existing lines, within the same corridors and towers, in a fraction of the time and cost?
That is precisely the promise of Advanced Conductors, such as CTC Global 's carbon fiber composite core ACCC Conductor that have already been deployed in over 65 countries and 30 U.S. states. These conductors operate at higher temperatures with less thermal sag and lower electrical resistance than legacy steel-reinforced aluminum cables (like ACSR or ACSS). This allows utilities to significantly increase current-carrying capacity (ampacity), reduce line losses by 25–40%, and improve system efficiency - all without expanding their right-of-way footprint.
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Why This Matters Now
The Berkeley Haas study found that Advanced Reconductoring could unlock an additional 5–10 GW of capacity in existing corridors across the U.S., making it possible to relieve grid congestion, integrate renewables, and accommodate growing demand without waiting for large-scale new builds. In fact, the authors emphasized that this approach is “underutilized, under-incentivized, and under-recognized” despite being one of the fastest ways to address the country’s growing transmission constraints.
When paired with microgrid development and demand-side energy management, advanced transmission upgrades offer a multi-pronged path to a more resilient and flexible grid:
A Shared Vision for a Smarter, Stronger Grid
James Richmond is right: our century-old playbook is no longer sufficient. We need a smarter, more agile grid - one that mirrors the dynamic and distributed nature of today’s power flows. And that means rethinking not just where power is generated and managed, but also how it is delivered across long distances.
As we plan for a future shaped by AI, data centers, distributed renewables, and rising electrification, we should recognize that the most resilient grid will combine demand-side innovation with transmission-side modernization. One strengthens the edge, the other fortifies the backbone. Together, they create a truly flexible, future-ready grid architecture.
Let’s continue the conversation and work together to craft a national grid strategy that honors both engineering logic and economic pragmatism. By embracing proven, scalable tools like microgrids and Advanced Conductors, we can build a bridge to a more resilient, efficient, and equitable energy future - without waiting decades or breaking the bank.
For more on the Berkeley Haas paper, “Accelerating Transmission Expansion by Using Advanced Conductors in Existing Right-of-Way,” visit: https://haas.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/WP343.pdf
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250617507388/en/Google-and-CTC-Global-Announce-Initiative-to-Expand-American-Electric-Grid-and-Transmission-Capacity-U.S.-Supply-Chain-with-Advanced-Conductors
Beautiful capture!
Yes the grid is under pressure and the challenge is real. Recycling and reusing all that “useless” power that occupies 40% of the space on the grid would elevate most of that pressure. That “pressure” is like the common cold- treating the symptoms doesn’t cure the malady! Bigger better wires and creative tariff policies treat the symptoms but will never cure the malady!
Thanks for sharing, Dave