Learners Live

Did you Know?
Menu

Senators Introduce Bill to Modernize America’s Electric Grid

William Attardi on March 9, 2026

A new bipartisan legislation to modernize the nation’s electric grid and meet America’s growing energy demand. This bill cuts permitting delays, incentivizes advanced transmission upgrades, strengthens state grid planning, and accelerates the deployment of innovative grid technologies to lower costs and improve grid reliability for American families and businesses. The REWIRE Act provides a commonsense path forward: rather than building new infrastructure from scratch, it upgrades existing transmission lines with advanced conductors that can double capacity (a process known as “reconductoring”). By reducing congestion and bypassing lengthy permitting requirements, reconductoring could reduce grid costs by $85 billion by 2035 and $180 billion by 2050. Senators Introduce Bill to Modernize America’s Electric Grid – electrifiED

PG&E Unveils $73 Billion Spending Plan to Meet Surging Data-Center Energy Demand

William Attardi on September 30, 2025

PG&E plans to invest $73 billion by 2030 to upgrade transmission infrastructure to accommodate a surge in electricity demand from data centers. The utility is working to serve 10 gigawatts of new demand over the next decade, driven by AI and other technologies. The plan also includes nearly 700 miles of underground power lines and 500 miles of wildfire safety upgrades. PG&E unveils $73 billion spending plan to meet surging data-center energy demand | Reuters

U.S. Electrical Grid Infrastructure to Gain $20B Investment from Avangrid by Kim Riley

William Attardi on March 14, 2025

Avangrid Inc., a leading energy company and member of the Iberdrola Group, said Wednesday it plans to invest $20 billion in United States electrical grid infrastructure through the end of the decade.  Executives discussed how growing energy demand requires a critical need to invest in energy infrastructure, and that the U.S. is a top investment destination as Avangrid and Iberdrola modernize and expand the country’s electrical grid. They also noted that the investment plan could also include opportunities for new generation. Avangrid has about $50 billion in assets in the United States across 23 states and employs over 8,000 people. Its eight electric and gas utilities in the Northeast serve more than 3.3 million customers. Avangrid also owns and operates about 10.5 gigawatts of electric generation capacity, capable of producing enough electricity to power over three million homes.  U.S. electrical grid infrastructure to gain $20B investment from Avangrid – Daily Energy Insider

More Electricity Needed Faster to Further National Energy Security, Says S&P Global Report by Kim Riley

William Attardi on March 14, 2025

The summary of the S. National Power Demand Study— which will be released in its entirety in the coming weeks — highlights the extent of the electricity demand growth facing the United States, and presents some of the tools that can be tapped to meet the moment in furtherance of national energy security. Electricity demand in America will surge by 35 percent to 50 percent between 2024 and 2040, primarily driven by AI data centers, new manufacturing activity, electric vehicles (EVs), space-heating electrification, and broad economic growth, according to the S&P Global study. A key finding is that the demand is growing faster than the supply of new energy solutions that could power it, creating an urgent need for faster policy action on permitting and grid interconnection and an all-of-the-above energy strategy within the sector, according to S&P Global.  More electricity needed faster to further national energy security, says S&P Global report – Daily Energy Insider

Interesting: The Three Pillars of Independence of an Organization

The 3 Pillars of Independence most commonly refers to a framework from the UK voluntary sector (specifically promoted by organizations like Bond and the Directory of Social Change). It is a toolkit for assessing and maintaining the independence of charities, NGOs, or civil society organizations.

The Three Pillars are:

  1. Independent of Party Politics – The organization (or regulator) must remain free from bias or influence by any political party or the government of the day. Decisions should be impartial, not favoring one political side.
  2. Independent of Populism – It should not be swayed by popular public opinion, media-driven campaigns, or transient public pressure, especially on controversial or unpopular causes.
  3. Independent of the Press – Freedom from media influence or pressure, ensuring decisions are based on evidence and law rather than headlines or public narratives.

This toolkit was created to monitor potential political encroachment on charitable regulation and to ensure charities can operate without undue external interference.

 

Check out the learning sessions we posted…

August Blog: Learning to Get Better by Bill Attardi

WE ARE NOW LIVE ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@BillAttardi