Texture launches open-source registry for U.S. power grid

Until now, a complete view of the evolving power system existed only in fragmented, separately-maintained sources. CommonGrid consolidates this data into a relational database covering every major grid component, including high-voltage transmission lines, power plants over 1 MW, market nodes, and municipal utility territories. By utilizing the Open Database License, the project invites researchers and developers to access the data via REST APIs or SQL snapshots, ensuring that improvements are shared back to the community.

Victor Quinn, co-founder and CTO at Texture, noted that no single organization possesses the resources to maintain an accurate model of the entire grid as rates change and assets retire. The platform relies on a moderation team to verify edits, ensuring that the registry remains a living document rather than a static publication. As the U.S. energy sector faces unprecedented demand from AI and electrification, this shared infrastructure aims to replace redundant, private mapping efforts with a singular, public record.