Letter: Building a grid to power future demand – Alexandria Echo Press

Report on U.S. Energy Infrastructure and Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A strategic shift in the United States energy portfolio towards a diversified mix of sources is underway, presenting significant opportunities to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This transition is critical for strengthening national energy infrastructure, ensuring economic growth, and promoting environmental sustainability. However, a projected 53% increase in electricity consumption by 2035 necessitates urgent and continued investment in the electric grid. This report outlines the alignment of current energy trends with key SDGs and highlights the infrastructural challenges that must be addressed to meet future demand sustainably.

Advancing SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

The diversification of the U.S. energy grid is a direct contribution to SDG 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. The growth of renewable energy sources is central to this progress.

• Increased Share of Renewables: In alignment with SDG Target 7.2, electricity produced from renewable resources surpassed that from both nuclear (2021) and coal (2022), marking a significant milestone in the transition to cleaner energy.
• Energy Security: A wider mix of geographically dispersed energy sources enhances the reliability and stability of the power supply, supporting the goal of universal access to reliable energy.

Fostering SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The development of renewable energy projects, particularly in non-urban areas, directly supports the objectives of SDG 8 by promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

1. Local Economic Stimulus: Wind and solar projects generate new tax revenues, which bolster the budgets of rural counties and support public services.
2. Income Diversification: These projects provide an additional, stable source of income to landowners, enhancing economic resilience in rural communities.
3. Job Creation: The development, construction, and operational phases of renewable energy facilities create new employment opportunities, contributing to local and national economic vitality.

Building Resilient Infrastructure for SDG 9 and SDG 11

Investment in the electric grid is fundamental to achieving SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by developing quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure.

• Modernization Requirement: The existing U.S. transmission system was designed for centralized power generation and is inadequate for connecting geographically dispersed renewable energy sources to areas of high demand.
• Enhancing Resilience: Upgrading and expanding transmission infrastructure is essential to make the electric system more resilient to disruptions, a key target for both sustainable infrastructure and sustainable communities.

Challenges and Strategic Recommendations

The primary obstacle to achieving these sustainable development objectives is the lack of adequate transmission infrastructure to accommodate both the growth in renewable generation and the projected 36% increase in peak electricity demand by 2035.

Recommendations

To meet these challenges and fully leverage the energy transition for sustainable development, the following actions are essential:

1. Prioritize Investment in Transmission: Sustained investment in modernizing and expanding the electric transmission system must be a national priority to connect consumers to affordable and clean energy sources.
2. Facilitate Renewable Integration: Infrastructure development must focus on connecting new renewable energy projects to the grid to meet growing electricity demand and advance climate action goals under SDG 13.
3. Support Rural Development: Continued support for renewable projects in rural areas will help reduce regional inequalities, in line with SDG 10, while strengthening the national energy portfolio.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • The article’s central theme is the shift in the U.S. towards a “wider mix of energy sources,” with a specific focus on renewable energy like “wind and solar.” It discusses the importance of connecting these “affordable electric sources” to the grid, which directly aligns with the goal of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • The article explicitly states that the development of renewable energy resources has “brought numerous economic benefits” and helps “create new jobs and business opportunities.” It highlights how these projects “boost local economies by generating new tax revenues” and “create jobs throughout their development and operation,” connecting directly to the goal of promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and decent work.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • A major challenge identified in the article is the “lack of necessary transmission infrastructure.” The author argues that “investing in the transmission system is essential” to meet demand and make the “electric system more resilient.” This focus on building resilient infrastructure and upgrading the electric grid to support new, clean technologies is a core component of SDG 9.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The article emphasizes the positive impact of renewable energy projects on “rural areas where these projects are most often located.” It mentions benefits such as bolstering “rural county budgets” and providing income to landowners. This relates to strengthening the economic links between rural and urban areas, as rural energy generation is essential for powering population centers, which is an aspect of sustainable community development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
  • The article directly supports this target by noting that “Electricity produced from renewable energy resources exceeded those produced by nuclear and coal in 2021 and 2022 respectively,” indicating a substantial increase in the share of renewables.
• Target 7.a: By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy… and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.
  • The article’s main argument that “continued investment in the electric grid must be a priority” and that “investing in the transmission system is essential” aligns with the goal of promoting investment in energy infrastructure to support clean energy.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation.
  • The article highlights how wind and solar projects “create new jobs and business opportunities” and “boost local economies,” which are outcomes of the development-oriented policies this target aims to promote.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being.
  • The article’s call to address the “lack of necessary transmission infrastructure” and to make the “electric system more resilient” directly reflects the need to develop the reliable and resilient infrastructure described in this target.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.a: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.
  • The article discusses how renewable projects in “rural areas” provide “numerous economic benefits” like new tax revenues and jobs, while the energy produced is transmitted to meet demand across the country. This illustrates the positive economic links between rural energy production and broader national consumption, which requires effective development planning.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 7

• Renewable energy share (Implied): The statement that electricity from renewables surpassed that from nuclear and coal in 2021 and 2022 implies the use of an indicator like 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption. The comparison is a direct measure of this share’s growth.

Indicators for SDG 8

• Job creation in the renewable sector (Implied): The article’s mention of projects that “create jobs throughout their development and operation” points to the number of jobs created in the clean energy sector as a key performance indicator.
• Increased local tax revenue (Implied): The text states that projects generate “new tax revenues that bolster rural county budgets.” The amount of this new tax revenue would be a direct indicator of the local economic boost.

Indicators for SDG 9

• Investment in transmission infrastructure (Implied): The argument that “continued investment in the electric grid must be a priority” implies that the total financial investment in building and upgrading transmission lines is a critical indicator of progress.
• Grid resilience (Implied): The goal to “make our electric grid stronger” and “keep power flowing during disruptions” suggests that indicators such as the frequency and duration of power outages could be used to measure the grid’s resilience.

4. Table of Identified SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: echopress.com