North America’s power grid is transforming, and the stakes have never been higher. Demand from AI, data centers and industrial electrification is accelerating at a pace the grid was never built to support. Meanwhile, aging infrastructure and more frequent extreme weather events are tightening the window for action. Simply maintaining the status quo isn’t enough. To keep communities powered, industries competitive and the energy transition on track, we need a new kind of connectivity.
This is where the Interregional Transmission Overlay (ITO) comes in.
An ITO reimagines how electricity moves across the continent. By linking regions with high‑capacity transmission lines, it creates a flexible backbone that can deliver power where it’s needed most, strengthening reliability, unlocking renewable resources and lowering system costs. Much like how the interstate highway system reshaped mobility, an interconnected grid has the potential to reshape our economic and energy landscape for generations.
This playbook explores how an ITO could meet today’s pressures head-on while building the foundation for tomorrow’s opportunities. It examines the technical, economic and operational realities of an interregional system, clearly outlining why this approach is both necessary and achievable.
Inside, you’ll uncover:
- The forces pushing the grid to its limits (and why regional planning alone can’t solve them)
- How an ITO enables efficient, large-scale movement of low-carbon, reliable power
- The five critical challenges the industry must overcome to bring this vision to life
- Practical steps utilities, developers and policymakers can act on today
This playbook is designed for leaders who are ready to think beyond incremental improvements and embrace bold, systemic solutions. The path forward is ambitious, but it is within reach.
Download the playbook and discover how we can power the future together.
