# Understanding the transmission bottleneck

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2024-08-08
- Length: 41m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-08-08-understanding-the-transmission-bottleneck

## Summary

Rob Gramlich, founder and president of Grid Strategies, explains that the U.S. transmission bottleneck is defined by three challenges: congestion, interconnection, and buildout. He details how congestion costs have doubled recently and interconnection queues have ballooned to over four years, driven by a flawed generator-by-generator study process. Gramlich argues that proactive planning, as seen in Texas's CREZ and MISO's MVPs, combined with reforming permitting and payment structures, can unclog the grid and enable the energy transition.

## Chapters

- [2:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-08-08-understanding-the-transmission-bottleneck#t=133) Introduction: Rob Gramlich and Grid Strategies
- [4:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-08-08-understanding-the-transmission-bottleneck#t=296) History of U.S. Transmission Buildout
- [11:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-08-08-understanding-the-transmission-bottleneck#t=674) The Problem of Congestion and Costs
- [20:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-08-08-understanding-the-transmission-bottleneck#t=1252) Interconnection Queue Delays and Costs
- [30:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-08-08-understanding-the-transmission-bottleneck#t=1844) Solutions: Planning, Permitting, and Paying
- [37:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-08-08-understanding-the-transmission-bottleneck#t=2221) Current Policy Landscape and Future Outlook

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Grid Strategies (company)
- ERCOT (other)
- MISO (other)
- FERC (other)
- Energy Hub (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Plasma Tunnel Boring Machines to Revolutionize Energy Transmission: Insights from Troy Helming, Founder and CEO of EarthGrid](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-06-20-plasma-tunnel-boring-machines-to-revolutionize-energy-transmission-insights-from) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Managing Energy At The Edge: Navigating The Modern Grid With Itron](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-09-05-managing-energy-at-the-edge-navigating-the-modern-grid-with-itron) (Over the Air)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-08-08-understanding-the-transmission-bottleneck. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.