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In alignment with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a landmark $2.2 billion investment in the nation’s power grid. This funding, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, will support eight major projects across 18 states. The initiative aims to strengthen the grid’s resilience to extreme weather, lower costs for communities, and expand capacity to meet the growing demands of manufacturing and data centers. This substantial investment is expected to generate nearly $10 billion in public and private funding, adding approximately 13 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity to the U.S. grid, including 4,800 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind power. The upgrades are projected to create at least 5,000 jobs and enhance over 1,000 miles of transmission lines.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm underscored the urgency of reinforcing the grid amidst escalating heat waves and severe weather events. “The Biden-Harris Administration is making critical infrastructure investments to deliver more resilient, clean power, support the manufacturing boom, and create thousands of local jobs,” she stated.
John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy, emphasized the importance of these projects in achieving climate and clean energy objectives. “Today’s awards are a step closer to our clean energy future by upgrading grid infrastructure nationwide,” he remarked.
White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi highlighted the expansion of the grid as essential to addressing climate challenges. “These investments will strengthen grid resilience, mitigating the impacts of climate-driven extreme weather,” Zaidi noted.
The GRIP Program, a key component of the DOE’s Building a Better Grid Initiative and authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, represents the largest federal investment in grid infrastructure to date. The funding will support projects through the Grid Innovation Program grants, which focus on deploying cutting-edge transmission and grid technologies.
Key projects include:
- Clean Path New York and North Plains Connector: These projects will install approximately 625 miles of new transmission lines, increasing grid capacity by about 4,300 MW and integrating high voltage, direct current (HVDC) technology.
- Advanced Technology Upgrades: Six projects will enhance existing grid infrastructure with advanced conductors, dynamic line ratings, microgrids, and distribution management systems.
- Regional Collaborations: Initiatives like RELIEF and Power Up New England will address system contingency issues and facilitate new offshore wind connections.
In addition to the Grid Innovation Program, the GRIP Program includes Grid Resilience Utility and Industry Grants, and Smart Grid Grants. The second round of funding selections for these programs will be announced later this year.
This historic investment aims to modernize the U.S. power grid, promote clean energy growth, and foster collaboration across federal, state, and private sectors.
Source: SOLARQUARTER
