Open Access Technology International (OATI), a Minneapolis-based grid-tech company, is requesting Trump administration funding for a project it says could substantially increase the nation's power transmission capacity without constructing new towers or lines. The firm's software, already used by utilities, aims to optimize the use of existing infrastructure.
If implemented, the technology could reduce the need for carbon-intensive peaker plants and enable greater integration of renewable energy sources like wind and solar. While OATI has not specified exact emissions reductions, the shift from gas-fired generation to renewables could cut millions of tonnes of CO2 annually.
OATI is seeking an unspecified amount of federal funding for the nationwide rollout. The project would likely create jobs in software engineering and grid operations, though no financial details have been disclosed.
The request comes amid debates over grid modernization and permitting reform. If approved, it could align with U.S. goals to decarbonize electricity by 2035, though it bypasses traditional infrastructure battles over new transmission lines.
Critics question whether software alone can solve congestion without new physical infrastructure, and whether federal funding for a private firm is warranted.
Some grid experts argue that grid-enhancing technologies can only provide incremental gains and that major transmission buildout remains necessary for deep decarbonization. Retrofitting control systems across diverse regional grids also presents significant technical and regulatory hurdles.