The U.S. has entered a period of surging electrical demand driven by the expansion of data centers and AI alongside growth in domestic manufacturing and electrification. Yet insufficient expansion and modernization of the grid continues to prevent timely and affordable access to electricity to enable this new growth.
This annual report from Grid Strategies analyzes what progress has been made in the buildout of high-capacity transmission, and the latest iteration takes a new step in contrasting U.S. buildout with key global competitors and regions.
In 2025, we found:
- 435 miles of new high-capacity transmission lines (345 kV+) were energized nationally.
- Most of the transmission built in 2025 came from just three projects in Colorado and the Southwest Power Pool.
- The U.S. lags significantly behind the rest of the world in high-capacity transmission construction.
- Over the last fifteen years, China built six to seven times more high-capacity transmission, adjusted for load, than the U.S.
In order to accelerate development and expand transmission capacity, grid policy reforms are needed to ensure the U.S. can build the transmission and related energy infrastructure needed.
Miles of new 345 kV+ transmission constructed (2010-2025)
This report was developed with support from Connected Grid Initiative.
Past Reports