This report “A Quantitative Analysis of Variables Affecting Power Transmission Infrastructure Projects in the US” by the Non-Technical Barriers to the Clean Energy Transition Initiative and the Energy Systems Modeling and Analytic Platform at the Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University SIPA, applies a data-driven approach to this policy debate.
Using statistical analysis and machine learning models to analyze a dataset from the data company MAPSearch of planned transmission projects of at least 100 kilovolts (kV) conceived between 2005 and 2023, which includes more than 1,300 transmission projects, the report provides a systematic assessment of the impact of key variables on the likelihood that a proposed transmission line will actually be built.
The report finds that the most impactful variables to transmission project success include the following:
● Regional and state support.
● Interstate vs. intrastate
● Project goal
● Choice of utility business model
Access the complete report here
