Editing Electric power transmission (section)

=== Reconductoring ===
Some utilities have embraced reconductoring to handle the increase in electricity production. Reconductoring is the replacement-in-place of existing transmission lines with higher-capacity lines. Adding transmission lines is difficult due to cost, permit intervals, and local opposition. Reconductoring has the potential to double the amount of electricity that can travel across a transmission line.<ref name="Pontecorvo">{{Cite web |last=Pontecorvo |first=Emily |date=February 20, 2024 |title=There Is a Stupidly Easy Way To Expand the Grid - Heatmap News |url=https://heatmap.news/climate/clean-energy-grid-reconductoring |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=heatmap.news |language=en}}</ref> 
A 2024 report found the United States behind countries like Belgium and the Netherlands in adoption of this technique to accommodate electrification and renewable energy. <ref name="NYT-AR">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/09/climate/electric-grid-more-power.html |title=The U.S. Urgently Needs a Bigger Grid. Here's a Fast Solution. |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |author=Brad Plumer |date=April 14, 2024}}</ref> In April 2022, the [[Biden Administration]] streamlined environmental reviews for such projects, and in May 2022 announced competitive grants for them funded by the 2021 [[Bipartisan Infrastructure Law]] and 2022 [[Inflation Reduction Act]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/05/28/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-launches-federal-state-initiative-to-bolster-americas-power-grid/ |date=May 28, 2024 |title=FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Launches Federal-State Initiative to Bolster America's Power Grid |publisher=The [[White House]]}}</ref>

The rate of transmission expansion needs to double to support ongoing electrification and reach emission reduction targets. As of 2022, more than 10,000 power plant and energy storage projects were awaiting permission to connect to the US grid — 95% were zero-carbon resources. New power lines can take 10 years to plan, permit, and build.<ref name="Pontecorvo" />

Traditional power lines use a steel core surrounded by aluminum strands ([[Aluminium-conductor steel-reinforced cable]]). Replacing the steel with a lighter, stronger composite material such as [[carbon fiber]] ([[ACCC conductor]]) allows lines to operate at higher temperatures, with less sag, and doubled transmission capacity. Lowering line sag at high temperatures can prevent wildfires from starting when power lines touch dry vegetation.<ref name="NYT-AR" /> Although advanced lines can cost 2-4x more than steel, total reconductoring costs are less than half of a new line, given savings in time, land acquisition, permitting, and construction.<ref name="Pontecorvo" />

A reconductoring project in southeastern Texas upgraded 240 miles of transmission lines at a cost of $900,000 per mile, versus a 3,600-mile greenfield project that averaged $1.9 million per mile.<ref name="Pontecorvo" />