# US transmission inches forward in 2026 as HVDC corridors advance and the gap stays open
> Champlain Hudson energises and Cimarron Link and Southern Spirit progress, but planners say new lines still lag load growth and renewables

**Meta:** type: story · date: 2026-06-24 · heads: اللعبة الطويلة, ما الذي تعطّل · 8 takes · 3 lenses · 3 regions

## Summary

US [Transmission](/ar/entity/transmission) is advancing unevenly in 2026. The Champlain Hudson Power Express, carrying
Canadian hydropower into New York, is set to begin delivery this year, and New England Clean Energy
Connect is flowing. Merchant [HVDC](/ar/entity/united-states) corridors progress: Cimarron Link (400 miles,
1,900MW, Oklahoma) and Southern Spirit (320 miles, 3,000MW bidirectional, linking ERCOT to the
Southeast). MISO is pushing a 765kV north-south backbone; SPP studies multi-state HVDC; PJM/NYISO
explore offshore-wind HVDC meshes. But planners warn the buildout still lags [load](/ar/entity/data-centers)
growth and queued renewables without permitting and interregional reform, DOE cancelled Grain Belt
Express loan guarantees in 2025, though developers say it continues.

## By the numbers

- 1,900 MW, Cimarron Link firm capacity (400 miles, Oklahoma).
- 3,000 MW, Southern Spirit bidirectional capacity (320 miles, ERCOT-Southeast).
- 765 kV, AC backbone voltage MISO is advancing north-to-south.
- 3, US interconnections HVDC ties aim to stitch together.
- 2026, Champlain Hudson Power Express expected delivery start.

## Why it matters

Transmission is the binding constraint on both connecting cheap renewables and serving data-center
load; congestion drives curtailment, negative prices and reliability risk. Lines take a decade,
demand is arriving now, the mismatch is the core of US grid stress.

## What to watch

- Champlain Hudson and Cimarron Link in-service milestones.
- Federal permitting/interregional-planning legislation.
- Whether offshore-wind HVDC meshes survive policy and cost pressure.

## Regional takes (batched by bias / lens)

### unlabelled
- **US Department of Energy** (United States, en) — DOE Office of Electricity on HVDC's role linking the three US interconnections and the federal Transmission Facilitation Program backing new corridors.
  Source: https://www.energy.gov/oe/articles/connecting-country-hvdc
- **Grid United** (United States, en) — 
  Source: https://gridunited.com/projects/
- **HVDC World** (Global, en) — 
  Source: https://www.hvdcworld.com/blog/grid-united
- **US DOE (Transmission Facilitation Program)** (United States, en) — 
  Source: https://www.energy.gov/oe/transmission-facilitation-program-selections
- **IEA** (France, en) — 
  Source: https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/744ff0bb-905a-4f9f-83e3-2d04ce99e09c/BuildingtheFutureTransmissionGrid.pdf
- **EIA** (United States, en) — 
  Source: https://www.eia.gov/analysis/studies/electricity/hvdctransmission/pdf/transmission.pdf

### centrist policy
- **Niskanen Center** (United States, en) — Argues neither 2025 nor 2026 closes the transmission gap without permitting and interregional-planning reform; buildout rate trails both load growth and queued renewables.
  > "2025 didn't close the transmission gap, and 2026 won't either without change."
  Source: https://www.niskanencenter.org/2025-didnt-close-the-transmission-gap-and-2026-wont-either-without-change/

### grid-planning analysis
- **Zero Emission Grid** (United States, en) — Tracks 2026 movement on 765kV AC backbones (MISO), multi-state HVDC studies (SPP) and offshore-wind HVDC meshes (PJM/NYISO) as congestion and reliability drivers converge.
  > "By 2026, there will be serious movement on 765 kV AC backbones and HVDC corridors."
  Source: https://www.zeroemissiongrid.com/insights-press-zeg-blog/2026-transmission-planning/

## Across the graph
- Related: [[pjm-emergency-curtailment-order-2026]], [[renewables-curtailment-record-2026]], [[iberian-blackout-final-report-2026]], [[pjm-data-center-power]]
- Entities: Electricity, United States, Transmission, Data Centers

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Canonical: https://rbtfl.xyz/ar/n/hvdc-transmission-buildout-2026