On March 10, 2025, Niskanen Center joined the Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition in a letter urging the White House National Economic Council to make electric transmission competition a national priority.
Anti-competitive state right-of-first-refusal (“ROFR”) laws grant incumbent utilities a monopoly over the development of new transmission projects. In doing so, they undermine President Trump’s promise to reduce energy costs, reshore manufacturing jobs, and maintain national leadership in AI by limiting the amount of cost-effective long-range transmission that can be planned and built.
President Trump’s administration previously recognized that ROFR laws reduce competition, harm consumers, and may interfere with interstate commerce. With several states considering new ROFR policies, time is of the essence to prevent unnecessary costs for Americans to have a reliable grid.
The Niskanen Center supports strong, market-driven transmission policies that reduce electricity costs, enhance grid reliability, and bolster America’s economic competitiveness.