Corridors of Commerce: Leveraging the ROW as a Strategic Energy Resource
The underutilized right-of-way (ROW) is more than a backdrop for travel; it is the nation’s most strategic energy corridor. As U.S. electricity demand is projected to grow 15.8% by 2029—driven by a surge in domestic manufacturing and the rapid expansion of energy-intensive high-tech industries—The Ray is reimagining approximately 150,000 miles of readily available land as a land-use solution to meet demand while promoting affordability through the colocation of energy infrastructure.
The ROW as a High-Value Distributed Resource
To address modern capacity challenges, the grid must shift toward Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). DERs are small-scale energy assets—typically with a capacity of less than 10 megawatts—that generate, store, or consume energy close to where it is needed. Roadside solar arrays act as these decentralized power sources, generating electricity at the point of use and reducing strain on the central power system during peak periods.
When integrated into Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), which are a connected aggregation of DER technologies, these roadside assets provide the grid with high-value flexibility. By aggregating distributed sites into a single, dispatchable resource, VPPs offer a faster, more cost-effective path to resource adequacy—meeting grid needs at a cost 15-35% lower than traditional infrastructure investments.
Technical Milestones in Colocation
The centerpiece of The Ray’s value-add is the launch of our Overhead Transmission Deployment Tool. This advanced GIS application enables data-driven insights with unprecedented precision, empowering stakeholders to identify the most viable corridors for energy transmission infrastructure.
As the leading experts in right-of-way energy and mobility, The Ray has developed a proprietary methodology to identify infrastructure opportunities across the transportation landscape. This expertise is built on the fact that The Ray maintains the only complete national database of highway right-of-way data. This exclusive information forms the foundation of our Overhead Transmission Deployment Tool, enabling us to recommend viable sites with unparalleled credibility and precision.
By applying this methodology, The Ray has expanded its role as a lead partner in ROW energy deployment, executing new studies for state agencies—including a recent transmission infrastructure opportunity study for the Maine Department of Energy Resources (MaineDOER)—to identify previously out-of-reach opportunities for traditional planning.
A New Era of Interagency Coordination
The primary barrier to a modernized grid is often the silo between transportation and utility sectors. To bridge this gap, The Ray’s State Partnerships & Strategy team recently facilitated an interagency working group within the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).
This initiative serves as a national model for early coordination, accelerating the integration of high-voltage transmission into highway ROW. By aligning leaders from the energy, broadband, and transportation sectors, The Ray ensures that state DOTs can secure the connectivity and power resources required for next-generation mobility.
Driving National Energy Independence
The work ahead involves converting idle roadsides into a multilayered, interconnected energy-and-mobility grid. Through our partnership with Esri, we are moving toward a national stewardship model for the ROW that treats public land as a vital asset for progress.
Our 2026 roadmap features a nationwide transmission-suitability analysis to support the colocation of high-voltage lines and fiber-optic broadband. By using the ROW as a foundational asset for energy production, we are building the regulatory and technical frameworks needed to support resilient, multi-use corridors of the future.
Get on the Map
The Ray provides state DOTs and energy agencies with the geospatial tools and interagency frameworks necessary to transform the ROW into a productive energy asset. If your state is ready to lead this transition, reach out to learn how our Transmission Deployment Tool and technical expertise can accelerate your energy and infrastructure goals.
