Dive Brief:

• The Obama administration's first Quadrennial Energy Review, released yesterday, calls for up to $5 billion to be spent over the next decade to improve regional electric grid resilience.
• The report focuses on how to modernize the United States' energy infrastructure, with an emphasis on energy transmission, storage, and distribution​.​
• Recommendations also call for between $2.5 billion and $3.5 billion to replace aging natural gas pipeline infrastructure.

Dive Insight:

The White House's Quadrennial Energy Review points out that while the U.S. has "the most advanced energy systems in the world," the energy landscape is changing and the nation's supply and distribution mechanisms will need to change as well.

"Solar electricity generation has increased 20-fold since 2008, and electricity generation from wind energy has more than tripled. During that period, the United States has also become the world’s leading producer of oil and natural gas combined," the White House noted in a statement.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced a partnership with 17 energy companies, aimed at improving U.S. energy infrastructure resilience against extreme weather and climate change impacts. Among the partners are Pacific Gas & Electric, Con Edison, National Grid and Tennessee Valley Authority.

The government's proposal also calls for up to $350 million over five years to providing state financial assistance to promote and integrate transmission and distribution infrastructure investment plans for grid stability, efficiency and affordability.

And the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $72 million to support six new rural electric infrastructure projects, including major investments to drive solar energy. "The loans will be used
for transmission line improvements, including smart grid projects," according to the White House statement.

The administration's plan also calls for increasing the integration of energy data among the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and to compare the respective export and import data. "In addition, efforts should be taken to better share geographic information system data to develop energy system maps and review forward-looking assessments and projections of energy resources, flows, and demand," according to the White House's statement on the plan.