The power grid’s ability to provide reliable electricity to homes, industrial centers, and military installations is crucial for both economic and national security. However, a complex regulatory environment, regional differences among utility providers, and obstacles to modernization efforts have resulted in an outdated grid system that is increasingly strained and susceptible to outages.
This report from SAFE’s Center for Grid Security, titled “Wired for Defense: The National Security Imperative of Transmission Expansion,” emphasizes how existing vulnerabilities in the power grid affect the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the nation’s industrial base, ultimately impacting both national and economic security.
The Center for Grid Security proposes three policy changes that support a modernized grid that strengthens our economic competitiveness, national security, and meets growing societal power needs. These policy proposals include:
- Expanding the DoD Siting Clearinghouse to allow the Department to evaluate and review transmission projects based on their benefits to national defense.
- Providing DoD experts with the authority to manage negotiations with regional and state-level utilities, increasing the effectiveness of interactions between key regional stakeholders and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
- Incorporating national security considerations into FERC’s benefit assessment criteria by adding a benefit that specifically addresses the energy needs of national defense.
There is an urgent need to incorporate national security into decisions regarding the power grid, especially in light of rising power demands. If immediate action is not taken, our national defense infrastructure will face increased risks, ultimately affecting every aspect of society. Read the report from SAFE’s Center for Grid Security below.
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About SAFE’s Center for Grid Security
SAFE’s Center for Grid Security provides policy analysis and recommendations to address challenges facing the nation’s electrical infrastructure from a national security perspective. CGS leverages the perspectives of business and former military leaders to support expanded access to reliable and affordable electric power for economic growth, transportation electrification, and reindustrialization.
About SAFE
SAFE is an action-oriented, nonpartisan organization committed to transportation and energy policy solutions that advance the economic and national security of the United States, its partners, and allies. Since 2004, SAFE has convened business and former military leaders to advocate for secure, resilient, and sustainable energy solutions. SAFE relies on the knowledge and experience of four-star retired military officers, Fortune 500 CEOs, and its expert staff to produce high-quality, fact-based analysis and policy recommendations for lawmakers, regulatory agencies, and the public. Visit secureenergy.org to learn more.
