Nicholas Institute Study Cited During Congressional Hearing on Scaling Electricity for Growth

On March 5, testifying before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommitee on Energy, Tyler Norris cited a recent Nicholas Institute study on how load flexibility could help the existing U.S. power grid meet elevated demand.

Norris, a J.B. Duke Fellow who is pursuing a Ph.D. at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, testified in his personal capacity. He is lead author of the report released last month: Rethinking Load Growth: Assessing the Potential for Integration of Large Flexible Loads in US Power Systems. Coauthors include Tim Profeta (Nicholas Institute and Sanford School of Public Policy), Dalia Patino-Echeverri (Nicholas School), and Nicholas School graduate student Adam Cowie-Haskell (M.E.M. ’25).

Norris’s testimony addressed:

• how the existing US power system can quickly integrate large volumes of new electricity load while preserving reliability and affordability,
• opportunities to accelerate the addition of new generation to the grid,
• and how these measures can buy time and resources for scaling up long-lead investments.

Read testimony.

View the hearing on “Scaling for Growth: Meeting the Demand for Reliable, Affordable Electricity."

For media inquiries, contact the Nicholas Institute communications team at ni-comm@duke.edu.