The Department of Energy announced funding of $2.2 billion for eight projects across 18 states to strengthen the electrical grid, advance the transition to cleaner electricity and address the growing demand for power.
The funding will support the construction of more than 600 miles of new transmission lines and the upgrade of about 400 miles of existing lines to handle increased current and improve reliability.
The big picture: The investments are expected to provide more reliable and affordable electricity for 56 million homes and businesses, making it the largest direct investment in the nation’s grid to date.
- The funding is part of the DOE’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships program, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021, with more projects set to be announced later in the year.
Go deeper: Projects funded include upgrades to transmission lines in California to accommodate new renewable energy sources quickly, as well as enhancing onshore connection points for offshore wind energy generation in New England.
- The funding will also support the construction of a high-voltage transmission line in Montana and North Dakota to improve electricity movement and resiliency against extreme weather events.
- Additionally, the Virginia Department of Energy will receive funding to implement clean electricity and backup power solutions at data centers, demonstrating new grid-responsive capabilities that can set a model for reducing the impact of high-energy-demand facilities on the grid.
