No utility scam in building transmission lines

In a recent My Turn [“Inflation Reduction Act’s smoke and mirrors,” Recorder, March 31] and letter of support [“Writer exposes renewable energy ‘scam’” Recorder, April 5], the writers may think they exposed some great sham by the utility companies in regards to the Inflation Reduction Act’s encouraging policies for building and expanding transmission lines but they are obviously totally misinformed on this critical issue.

Fossil fuel and nuclear power plants can be built near population centers where the power is needed. This is not the case with solar and wind power. Most of the best sites for generating solar and wind power are not near population centers requiring the building and/or upgrading of transmission lines. I have a relative that has worked for a solar power company for the past eight years designing and finding financing for large scale solar facilities. He is leaving the solar industry to pursue other prospects in the green energy business.

One of his reasons is frustration with spending a couple of years developing a large solar project only to have it delayed by the lack of transmission infrastructure which is often being stymied by small-minded nimbyism. According to the Berkeley Lab, Energy Markets and Policy “there are enough renewable energy projects backlogged right now to achieve a largely clean energy grid by 2030.” The lack of transmission has become one of major roadblocks to the U.S. developing a green electric grid and through some of these provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act the Biden Administration is trying to address this issue to move the energy grid into the future not enhance utility company profits.

The American Council on Renewable Energy states that “through transmission expansion we can unlock tens of gigawatts of wind and solar stuck in interconnection queues.” This is a real problem recognized by renewable energy experts throughout the U.S. and the column and letter writers’ characterization of it having anything to do with utility company profits is evidence of their total lack of understanding of the issue.

Bill Lafley

New Salem

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