Dive Brief:

• The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) have contributed comments to help shape the first phase of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Quadrennial Energy Review (QER). Their recommendations reportedly focus on the long-term strength, flexibility and resilience of the nation's energy system and optimizing existing assets.
• EEI's comments reportedly focus on energy transmission, storage and distribution. The trade group also emphasized that QER recommendations should support investment in infrastructure, risk mitigation, and provide regulatory certainty.
• The QER was established by a January 2014 Presidential memorandum with the goal of identifying and addressing challenges in "transporting, transmitting, and delivering energy." 

Dive Insight:

The two trade groups reportedly also focused on the government's potential to maximize its impact on U.S. transmission and distribution infrastructure development through partnering with the private sector in a multi-stakeholder approach.

"As the United States' energy transformation continues towards greater use of low-carbon resources and more efficient-energy production and consumption, the integration of these technologies requires new grid functionality and energy infrastructure planning and investment," said BCSE President Lisa Jacobson. "A holistic approach going forward is required -- one that takes into account the distinct and valuable roles that the government, the private sector, and stakeholders play."

EEI Executive Vice President David Owens weighed in as well, saying, "It is vital that the QER process recognizes the value that the electric grid provides to all Americans and its critical importance to our daily lives, the economy, and national security…This will help to enable the integration of new technologies onto the grid, and will enable the continued delivery of reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean electricity…while minimizing environmental impacts and costs."