DOE draft study finds U.S. transmission needs rising

The U.S. Department of Energy has released a draft 2026 National Transmission Needs Study for consultation and public comment.

• The draft identifies rising load growth, especially from data centers, as a major driver of future transmission needs, alongside aging infrastructure, generator retirements, new interconnections, and severe weather risks.
• DOE says the study is meant to inform regional and interregional planning, future NIETC designations, and federal transmission authorities; it cites historical investment of 85,000 circuit-miles from 2016 to 2024 and estimated national congestion costs of $11 billion in 2023 and $12 billion in 2024.