While new poles and wires are vitally important to improving and expanding the grid, Clements has become a champion on the Commission for maximizing existing infrastructure, as well.

Grid-enhancing technologies (GETs), such as dynamic line ratings, advanced power flow control, and topology optimization, have the potential to more intelligently move power on the grid and improve the accuracy of available capacity on transmission lines.

This is no minor enhancement, either. GETs could double the amount of renewables that could be added to the grid nationally without building any new large-scale transmission lines, according to a recent study by the Brattle Group.

GETs don't replace the need for new transmission infrastructure. But they are a "right now" solution to expanding available capacity for clean energy sources that make up the vast majority of interconnection application backlogs.

Clements says she's a supporter of GETs and demand-side resources "because they're cheaper and faster" than new transmission in the near term.

"The analogy (for GETs) is like setting the highway speed at 40 MPH all year round just because you know it's going to snow a few days in February," Clements said, explaining the conservative static line rating. "You could go 70 MPH in April, May, June, and July. But because we know come February we need to go 40 MPH, we make the rule 40 MPH all year round."

Clements knows there is no silver bullet to solving the grid's problems. While GETs present positive opportunities to increase interconnection capacities and enhance transmission planning processes, there is still a long road ahead before these tools are likely to be deployed at scale.

Transmission owners have little financial incentive to incorporate GETs into existing infrastructure. At a few hundred thousand dollars to install, GETs don't add nearly as much to the rate base as a $50 million dollar transmission line.

This "misaligned incentive problem," as Clements calls it, may not be as big of an issue anymore, however. Utilities can rest assured that "the big stuff" still has to get built.

FERC can help, too, by establishing rules that require or facilitate the uptake of GETs, which are mentioned in both the transmission planning and interconnection reform efforts. The agency is taking industry feedback on whether to mandate dynamic line ratings.

"I think we're kind of getting to this precipice of a big moment for these technologies and for trying to also get some rules in place to help facilitate that," Clements said.

And that school homework assignment? Well, Clements never did clear up whether her daughter's project was finished before the start of the fall term.

What may be more certain is that Commissioner Clements is not about to let the grid procrastinate any longer.

About our sponsor:

Episode 16 of the Factor This! podcast is sponsored by Nextracker.

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