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The Biden-Harris administration has announced an additional $2 billion in funding for 38 projects aimed at bolstering the U.S. power grid’s resilience against the growing threats posed by extreme weather events. The funding, provided through the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program, is set to increase grid capacity, reduce costs for communities, and support the infrastructure needed to meet rising electricity demands from manufacturing, data centers, and electrification.
These initiatives are expected to add over 7.5 gigawatts (GW) of grid capacity, creating nearly 6,000 jobs and generating more than $4.2 billion in public and private investments. The selected projects will be implemented across 42 states and the District of Columbia, with President Biden highlighting six key projects in areas of Florida affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton during a recent visit.
The plan involves upgrading more than 950 miles of transmission infrastructure, constructing over 300 miles of new lines, and modernizing over 650 miles of existing lines with advanced grid technologies. These upgrades aim to protect the grid from future extreme weather while accelerating the integration of renewable energy projects.
DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm stressed the importance of these investments, noting how hurricanes and other climate-driven events have strained the nation’s aging electrical systems. She emphasized that this is the largest grid investment in U.S. history, part of the administration’s Investing in America initiative to make the power grid more reliable and resilient.
John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President, highlighted the need to double the nation’s transmission capacity in the next decade to meet the administration’s clean energy goals. The projects selected under the GRIP program will help expand transmission capabilities, making the grid more adaptable to future challenges.
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The GRIP program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, has allocated $10.5 billion for grid improvements, with this latest round bringing total federal funding to $7.6 billion for 104 projects. The overall effort is expected to enable 55 GW of new grid capacity, equivalent to powering more than 40 million homes annually.
In addition to enhancing grid resilience, the projects will support economic growth and job creation. Over 80% of these initiatives will partner with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), creating opportunities for workforce development and apprenticeships.
One standout project is the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) initiative, which will add 2,400 megawatts (MW) of transmission capacity across eight states, helping to reduce solar interconnection backlogs and improve outage response times. This project is expected to deliver significant economic benefits to disadvantaged communities.
The GRIP program also fosters innovation in grid technologies. In Connecticut, for example, a project will integrate a 20 MW battery storage system, transforming a fossil-fuel plant into a carbon-neutral facility. In Georgia, a project will rebuild transmission infrastructure using advanced conductors to boost capacity.
The DOE plans to launch a third round of GRIP funding in 2025 to continue advancing these critical grid improvements, ensuring that the U.S. power grid remains resilient, sustainable, and capable of meeting future energy needs.
Source: SOLARQUARTER
