# Looking for a turnaround in transmission

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2025-11-20
- Length: 29m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-11-20-looking-for-a-turnaround-in-transmission

## Summary

Rob Gramlich, founder and president of Grid Strategies, discusses the recent uptick in U.S. transmission planning and the structural barriers to building high-voltage lines. He highlights SPP’s $8.6 billion backbone approval and the cancellation of the Grain Belt Express loan guarantee as key recent developments. Gramlich explains that while DOE and FERC policies like Order 1920 are critical, the 'tragedy of the commons' prevents hyperscalers from individually funding shared grid infrastructure.

## Chapters

- [3:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-11-20-looking-for-a-turnaround-in-transmission#t=182) Introduction and Transmission Outlook
- [9:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-11-20-looking-for-a-turnaround-in-transmission#t=591) FERC Order 1920 and Recent Buildout Stats
- [14:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-11-20-looking-for-a-turnaround-in-transmission#t=841) Data Centers and the Tragedy of the Commons
- [18:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-11-20-looking-for-a-turnaround-in-transmission#t=1092) SPP Backbone and Grain Belt Loan Cancellation
- [23:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-11-20-looking-for-a-turnaround-in-transmission#t=1395) Permitting Reform and Interregional Planning
- [26:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-11-20-looking-for-a-turnaround-in-transmission#t=1577) Advanced Transmission Technologies and Private Developers

## 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

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Grid Strategies (company)
- SPP (company)
- Grain Belt Express (product)
- FERC (company)
- MISO (company)
- PJM (company)
- ERCOT (company)
- California ISO (company)
- NECEC (product)
- Grid United (company)
- EnergyHub (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Renewable Energy Policy with Ari Gerstman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-05-02-renewable-energy-policy-with-ari-gerstman) (The Amp Hour)
- [Power Transmission with Toby Robb](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-07-31-power-transmission-with-toby-robb) (The Amp Hour)
- [Electric Fields, Son.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-12-06-electric-fields-son) (The Amp Hour)
- [Solar Factories and HVDC Lines - Pollent Power Pushing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-07-02-solar-factories-and-hvdc-lines-pollent-power-pushing) (The Amp Hour)
- [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)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-11-20-looking-for-a-turnaround-in-transmission. 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.