Michael Skelly, CEO of Grid United, knows firsthand how hard it is to build a major transmission line connecting different grid regions. He has spent roughly ten years trying to bring such a project to life. His latest effort, according to Canary Media, would be a first-of-its-kind line linking three grids that sit in three different time zones.
The novelty of the proposal lies in its scale and reach. Most existing long-distance lines connect two regions at most. By spanning three grids, the line could allow electricity to flow across a much broader area, potentially helping to balance supply and demand among regions that peak at different times of day.
Skelly's experience suggests he is under no illusion about the obstacles. Interregional transmission requires coordination among multiple system operators, state regulators, and landowners. Yet the project's supporters would likely argue that such connections are essential for a cleaner grid, since they can move renewable power from where it is abundant to where it is needed.