Biden $2B Energy Infrastructure Investment Announced

On August 6th, the Department of Energy (DOE) awarded $2.2 billion to eight energy projects aiming to upgrade and reinforce energy infrastructure across 18 U.S. states. This $2B energy infrastructure investment is designed to enhance the U.S. power grid’s resilience against extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, elevated heat indexes, and disastrous events. 

In addition to reconfiguring the power grid’s infrastructure, the DOE grants support increasing capacity for manufacturing, data centers, and renewable energy transmission. As the president pushes toward his climate goals, vital components, such as energy storage and production facilities, must be enriched to ensure a smooth energy transition. 

Reimagining the Power Grid

Although the energy transition has had its fair share of road bumps, perhaps the largest obstacle has been outdated or incompatible infrastructure within the power grid. The projects receiving grant money from the DOE include developments over 18 U.S. states to help counteract some of the incompatibility and antiquated power systems’ shortcomings. 

Projects include allocations for:

• Over 600 miles of new transmission and 
• 400 miles of reconductored wiring
• Additional structural enhancements
• Integrated technologies to increase grid stability
• Increased long-term energy storage capacity
• Solar energy plant expansion
• Increased microgrids

The awards are part of the Biden administration’s effort to advance grid enhancements and create a modern grid capable of managing future energy demands. To fund these projects, the Department of Energy allocated money from its Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership (GRIP) program, as well as pledges from project sponsors totaling $7.8 billion in matching funds.

Once implemented, the funding will help project partners expand grid capacity by about 13 gigawatts (GW). That’s the equivalent of 1.3 billion LED light bulbs for reference.

A Record-Breaking Year

The president’s drive towards clean energy solutions has been further fueled by 2024’s record-breaking heat and extreme weather-related incidents. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notes that “warmer than usual oceans” this year will contribute to a potential 13 tropical cyclones impacting the U.S. during the 2024 hurricane season. 

With energy consumption and production often being blamed for climate change contributions, updating power systems to make way for renewable energy is a high priority for the Biden administration. 

And The Award Goes To…

The projects that have been awarded DOE funds span 18 states primarily located across the eastern and western coast of the U.S. They include: 

• The North Plains Connector Interregional Innovation: This 3 GW, 525-kV project received $700 million to advance its efforts to connect the Western Electricity Coordinating Council, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, and the Southeast Power Pool. 

• The California Harnessing Advanced Reliable Grid Enhancing Technologies for Transmission Project: This initiative received $600 million to reconductor transmission lines with updated technologies. 

• Power Up New England: This program was awarded $389 million in DOE funding to increase its 4.8 GW offshore wind and 85-MW long-duration energy storage systems. 

• The Reliable Electric Lines: Infrastructure Expansion Framework Project: This project received $249 million to increase grid stability across four states. 

• The Tribal Energy Resilience and Sovereignty Microgrid Project: The DOE awarded $87.6 million to this project, which aims to stabilize the grid for multiple tribes in Northern California. 

• The Data Center Flexibility as a Grid Enhancing Technology Project: This initiative to enhance grid technology in Virginia and South Carolina will receive $85 million from the DOE grants. 

• The North Carolina Innovative Transmission Rebuild project: This collaborative effort in eastern North Carolina received a collective $57.1 million from the DOE to restructure and rebuild transmission lines, creating a more stable grid amidst high temperatures. 

• Clean Path New York: The New York Power Authority’s transmission project aims to deliver a 1.3 GW renewable energy supply from upstate New York to New York City. This initiative received $30 million from the DOE and $3.2 billion in sponsor investments.

More to Come

The Department of Energy’s $10.5 billion GRIP program promises more funding as 2024 progresses. Funneling much-needed funds into restabilizing the grid and accounting for renewable energy resources will undoubtedly change the game and the Biden administration’s climate change efforts. 

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