Edison Electric Institute's (EEI's) updated report "Transmission Projects: At A Glance, March 2011" projects U.S. electric companies will invest some $61 billion (nominal dollars) in transmission infrastructure improvements by 2021.This spending estimate, derived from a sampling of transmission projects underway or planned, will be on top of the nearly $55 billion (2009 dollars) EEI members invested to improve ihc nation's grid between 2001 and 2009.The tiruwing investment in the nation's transmission infrastructure continues in response to needs including reliability and generator interconnection. The trend in increased transmission investment is also because of, in part, recent landmark developments in federal and state policies affecting transmission infrastructure such as the Energy Policy Act of 2005, slate renewable portfolio standards, federal transmission pricing policy, and federal initiatives promoting transmission smart grid development under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
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