The 2026 draft of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Transmission Needs Study released in July comes at a time when energy demand and costs are rising. Transmission is essential to delivering reliable, affordable clean energy, yet current policies, interconnection backlogs, and permitting processes are failing to deliver transmission at the pace required. And, while there is much work that can be done at the state, regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and independent system operators’ (ISOs) levels, there is a large role that the federal government must play to build a stronger and more reliable grid. The U.S. needs a coherent, proactive approach that will support the buildout of the transmission infrastructure we need to sustain our grid, protect ratepayers from high energy prices, and create high-quality union jobs across the country. 

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