AXIOS (Rebecca Falconer) - How wildfires are changing the U.S. electric grid
Years of destructive fires are forcing utilities to prioritize wildfire resilience as they plan the next generation of the U.S. electric grid. Why it matters: Utilities aren't just expanding the electric grid — they're designing it to withstand a more fire-prone climate . - This year's wildfire season is exceeding the 10-year average for both the number of fires and acres burned. The big picture: The U.S. is embarking on one of the biggest grid expansions in decades just as wildfire risk is becoming a defining challenge for utilities. Today's planning decisions may determine how resilient tomorrow's grid becomes. - Utilities are combining weather models, wildfire behavior, infrastructure data and population impacts to help…