Energy Dept. makes grid investments of $2.2B for resiliency, weather protection, load growth

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Tuesday unveiled a $2.2 billion investment in the nation’s grid by selecting eight projects across 18 states to receive federal funds for protecting against extreme weather events.

“The first half of 2024 has already broken records for the hottest days in Earth’s history, and as extreme weather continues to hit every part of the country, we must act with urgency to strengthen our aging grid to protect American communities,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

The projects also aim to lower costs for communities and drive additional grid capacity that’s needed to meet load growth stemming from an increase in manufacturing and data centers, said the DOE.

The projects will be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, which will draw on nearly $10 billion in total public and private investment to bring reliable, affordable, clean energy to Americans.

They will deploy innovative transmission infrastructure and technology upgrades to the existing grid, adding nearly 13 gigawatts (GW) of grid capacity — including 4,800 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind — so that more clean power reaches customers.

Additionally, the projects will create at least 5,000 good-paying jobs and upgrade more than 1,000 miles total of transmission, according to DOE.

“The Biden-Harris administration is investing in the most crucial component of the nation’s infrastructure, expanding and hardening the grid to allow more resilient, clean power to reach more households, and support the ongoing manufacturing boom — all while creating thousands of local jobs,” Granholm added.

The GRIP Program funding selections were made through Grid Innovation Program grants, which are one of three GRIP funding mechanisms that seek to deploy projects that use innovative approaches to transmission, storage, and distribution infrastructure to enhance grid resilience and reliability, said the DOE.

For instance, two projects will deploy large new transmission lines, one is Clean Path New York led by the New York Power Authority, and the other is the North Plains Connector, headed by the Montana Department of Commerce.

“In order to reach President Biden and Vice President Harris’ climate and clean energy goals, we need a bigger, smarter, more resilient grid,” said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy. “Today’s awards are bringing us closer to our clean energy future by building out transmission and upgrading grid infrastructure from North Carolina to California.”

Across the eight projects, more than $300 million will be invested in community workforce development, scholarships, and apprentice programs, as well as grants to community organizations. GRIP projects also include strategies to ensure meaningful community and labor engagement and quality.

Six of the eight GRIP projects will include local partnerships with labor unions, at least five of which will partner with local chapters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

For example, the RELIEF project — headed by the Utah Office of Energy Development in collaboration with the states of Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming, as well as the California Independent System Operator — will address system contingency issues and prevent over 5,500 hours of potential outages for 700,000 utility customers in five states.

“The investments we are making today will enhance the strength and resilience of our grid, especially in the face of more climate-fueled extreme weather events like wildfires, flooding, and extreme heat,” White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi said Aug. 6.

The full list of projects is available online .

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