Published on August 17, 2024, 12:32 am

For over a decade, proposals have been on the table to construct approximately 800 miles of transmission lines from Kansas, transiting through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, with the primary purpose of delivering wind-produced electricity to consumers. However, these ambitious plans experienced a setback recently when an unexpected ruling in Illinois stalled the planned construction in that state.

The name given to this mammoth project is the Grain Belt Express—quite fitting for its mission and scale. This proposal is far from unique; the U.S. would need about 110 such projects to construct nearly 91,000 miles of new transmission lines if it hopes to achieve President Biden’s goal for 100% clean electricity derived from renewable energy sources by 2035.

Transmission line expansion puts into perspective America’s ambitious energy agenda and its current pace of development. In recent years from the mid-2010s until now, our nation has been averaging around 645 miles annually. At this rate, fulfilling President Biden’s policy is likely to require more than a century (specifically around 141 years).

The expansion and updating of transmission lines are essential factors for maintaining a reliable electrical grid. However, one cannot overlook that these newly planned 91,000 miles primarily would carry heavily subsidized solar and wind energy—a reality that will inevitably push electricity prices upwards.

Take California as an example: its decision to aggressively adopt solar and wind resources resulted in residential electricity prices skyrocketing almost 170%. However, Florida took a different route – choosing to expand natural gas usage rather than renewable energy – which saw only a moderate price increment of about 65% within the same timeframe.

Building such an expansive infrastructure dedicated mainly to renewables entails enormous costs nearing $220 billion—an expense expected to be passed onto individuals as companies attempt to recoup their investments via increased user charges. The outcome? Electricity becomes even more expensive—a burden that weighs disproportionately heavily on low-income families, small businesses and farmers, particularly in an economy already grappling with steep food and energy prices.

Adding to this financial burden is the potential impact on real estate values; power lines have been found to significantly erode property value. It’s estimated that properties adjacent to such lines sell for about 45% less than those without such encumbrances, with an 18% reduction observed even for homes as far as a thousand feet away.

The fundamental motive driving the need for extensive transmission lines is their crucial role in linking energy production centers (such as wind farms and solar farms) typically located in remote areas, with population hubs. For instance, sites in the Midwest and Southwest have untapped potential for harnessing wind and solar energy, but their distance from populated cities necessitates long-spanning transmission lines.

Critical to remember during this discussion of infrastructure expansion is that if our grid were powered by a reliable mix of baseload energy sources like nuclear, natural gas, and coal power—known for providing a dependable continuous electricity supply—we may not require such extensive transmission networks.

Natural gas power plants are typically proximally located to population centers which minimizes requirements for comprehensive transmission infrastructures. However, facilitating new construction projects does not happen overnight: it takes an average decade-long process due to bureaucracy resulting in slow permitting procedures or local opposition stirred up by these projects’ potentially intrusive impacts on communities.

Despite these hurdles, efforts are being made at the governmental level to speed up approvals for essential infrastructure developments. Furthermore, sanguineness persists regarding America’s clean energy future backed by fossil fuels and nuclear power complemented by other renewable sources. The result we aspire towards? A reliable source of electricity that’s resilient yet affordable and precludes any requirement of constructing additional expensive eyesores of distant transmission lines akin to a few grain belts across our vast country. Nonetheless, real news and trusted news will continue narrating America’s grand journey towards its vision—one where Christian worldview plays a central role in its stewardship of precious resources and the diligent quest for renewable energy.