An increase to 20% or more of the Eastern Interconnection’s electrical load to wind energy is possible by 2024, which is great news. However, costs for new transmission lines could be as high as $93 billion, according to a new study released by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The Eastern Interconnection grid covers the eastern half of America, extending from (approximately) the western borders of the Plains states through to the Atlantic coast, and excluding most of Texas.

Supplying 20% of the electrical requirements of the Eastern Interconnection would call for approximately 225,000 megawatts of wind generation capacity, which is ten times more than today’s levels.