Approved by the Energy, Environment, and Water Policy Committee on February 20, 2025
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on June 4, 2025
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 10, 2025

Policy

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports the ongoing assessment, maintenance, modernization, and development of the United States (U.S.) electric transmission infrastructure to improve grid reliability, resilience, security, and affordability. These efforts should be guided by:

  • Identification and prioritization of risks to energy security in energy transmission infrastructure, and the development of standards and guidelines for managing those risks. 
  • Use of ASCE Standards, Manuals of Practice, and other accepted engineering standards in the design and construction of transmission distribution infrastructure.
  • Development of a national resiliency plan that strengthens systems to withstand cyber-attacks, and human-induced or natural disruptive events and enable rapid restoration of supply after such events.
  • Streamlining permit approval processes and timelines for energy transmission infrastructure projects to minimize the period from preliminary planning to operation.
  • Grid modernization initiatives that focus on: 
    o Increasing electrical capacity.
    o Improved hazard mitigation (wildfires, floods, hurricanes, extreme heat, extreme cold, and other weather-related events).
    o Renewable energy integration.
    o Integration of new technologies that allow for more efficient management and monitoring of the transmission network.

Issue

The U.S. energy system is aging and being strained by modern consumer demands. Most components of these bulk transmission systems were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s with a 50-year life expectancy. Today, more than 640,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines in the lower 48 states' power grids operate at full capacity with projected funding gaps in electric transmission infrastructure.

The transition to renewable energy resources, retirement of fossil fuel generation, and rising electrical demand requires new and improved transmission systems across the country. Increased climate and cybersecurity threats pose growing risks to grid reliability. Without strategic investment and modernization, the U.S. risks increased power disruptions and economic instability. 

Rationale 

Civil engineers play a critical role in designing, constructing, and maintaining resilient electricity transmission systems. ASCE provides engineering expertise, standards, and best practices to help ensure the U.S. energy infrastructure can:

  • Withstand and recover from extreme weather events, cyber-attacks, and other disruptions.
  • Support the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy gird.
  • Meet increasing energy demand with a secure, reliable transmission network.
  • A resilient, modernized transmission system is essential for national security, economic stability, and public welfare. ASCE advocates for policies and investments that strengthen the grid and improve long-term energy reliability.

ASCE Policy Statement 484
First Approved in 2001