By Steve Griffith, PMP, Executive Director, Regulatory & Industry Affairs, Mobility, NEMA
Hotter temperatures, more severe storms, increased drought, rising oceans, loss of biodiversity, decreased food availability, more health risks, widening poverty, growing human displacement – these are all consequences of climate change and are all happening today. The science is clear: 97 percent of scientists agree that humans are causing climate change.
There is a solution to the growing climate threat. The energy transition is a significant structural change in how energy is generated, transmitted, distributed, and eventually consumed. This transition is already happening, with the U.S. government investing hundreds of billions of dollars to create an electrified energy system that is more resilient, sustainable, decarbonized and connected. This historic downpayment on America’s energy future is driving the private sector to leverage trillions of dollars toward this new energy system, which will create thousands of jobs, restore American manufacturing, and help foster economic growth.
As a result, battery storage is growing, EV sales set records in 2023, and at least 117 manufacturing facilities or expansions have been announced since August 2022, totaling $421 billion of investment in domestic, utility-scale clean energy production, according to American Clean Power.
Electrical systems made by NEMA member companies are the backbone of this new electrified future, delivering increased efficiency, balancing energy demand, and enhancing grid reliability and security. The electroindustry is the behind-the-scenes powerhouse that makes modern life possible, from smart lighting to connected electrified vehicles to solar energy generation.
Recognizing this opportunity, under the guidance of a steering committee of member company executives, NEMA’s Energy Transition Campaign is on a mission to accelerate a rapid transition to this future energy system through technologies such as electrification, energy efficiency, grid resiliency, and energy storage.
Several campaign objectives are key to achieving this rapid transition: standardization to scale key accelerating technologies such as bi-directional EV charging, traction motors, and microgrid islanding performance; proactive building code development and adoption; advocacy and thought leadership on policy priorities that accelerate the energy transition such as distributed energy resources, grid security, and HVDC transmission development along existing rights-of-way such as railroads.
NEMA’s organization-wide priorities are aligned around these efforts. This month, NEMA joined the 2024 CANENA Annual General Meeting in Costa Rica to emphasize the need for harmonized North American standards in bi-directional EV charging, cyber and physical security of EV supply equipment, and cable management in public charging parking spaces. Later in March, NEMA will host a summit on affordable, reliable and resilient microgrid solutions for Puerto Rico and join EPRI’s Electrification Conference to discuss our energy transition priorities.
NEMA continues to update its interactive energy transition map, which outlines the critical nodes within the new electrified economy, from microgrids that generate and store energy locally to electrified, smart, and connected building and transportation systems. Each node embodies technology and policy barriers and accelerators that affect our journey toward a more electrified world.
The energy transition is crucial, and we all have a critical role to play. Electrical manufacturers are working to leverage historical levels of investment to continue their momentum and accelerate our all-electric future.