What you will learn about:  

• Why the U.S. grid is approaching a pivotal moment, with aging infrastructure past its 50-year lifespan, coal-fired generation retiring, and data center demand projected to grow 160% by 2030 — placing unprecedented pressure on a regionally structured transmission system.
• How an Interregional Transmission Overlay using HVDC and EHVAC technologies could connect renewable-rich regions with major demand centers, reduce electric system costs, and improve grid resilience during extreme weather events.
• The five key challenges that must be overcome — including cross-state planning coordination, investment and permitting barriers, energy market harmonization, supply chain limitations for specialized high-voltage equipment, and political and regulatory uncertainties.
• Actionable steps utilities and developers can take today — from identifying strategic corridors and forming oversight entities to leveraging FERC Order 1920 and DOE programs, coordinating interregional planning studies, and developing equitable cost allocation frameworks.

LOOK INSIDE

The U.S. power grid was not designed for this moment, when large industrial loads, data centers, renewable buildout, and extreme weather are colliding at scale. Incremental transmission upgrades may no longer be enough to maintain reliability, affordability, and flexibility across regions. This white paper invites engineers, planners, utilities, and policymakers to step back and examine what a more interconnected grid could enable—and what’s at risk if regional systems continue to operate in isolation. It offers a grounded, accessible look at how an Interregional Transmission Overlay could reshape planning assumptions and unlock new options for the decade ahead.