The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced nearly $2bn in funding for 38 projects aimed at bolstering the US power grid against the increasing risks posed by extreme weather.
These initiatives will also help reduce costs for local communities and expand grid capacity to meet the growing demand driven by manufacturing, data centres, and electrification efforts.
Launched under the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) programme, the projects will implement new, innovative transmission and distribution infrastructure, along with technology upgrades.
The upgrades will provide over 7.5GW of additional grid capacity, expedite the interconnection of new clean energy projects, support nearly 6,000 well-paying jobs, and stimulate more than $4.2bn in public and private investment to deliver reliable, affordable, and clean energy to US consumers.
These 38 projects, spanning 42 states and the District of Columbia, include six projects in the Southeast, previously announced by US President Biden during his recent visit to Florida. These particular projects are linked to utilities affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
According to a statement, the initiatives will upgrade over 950 miles of transmission infrastructure by constructing more than 300 miles of new transmission lines and adding grid-enhancing technologies or reconductoring to more than 650 miles of existing transmission lines, significantly increasing the capacity and resilience of the current grid.
Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the GRIP programme is directing $10.5bn towards communities across the US to improve grid flexibility and strengthen the resilience of the power system against the increasing threats of extreme weather and climate change.
The first round of GRIP funding, announced in October 2023, allocated $3.5bn to 58 projects across 44 states.
In August 2024, the US DOE revealed an additional $2.2bn for eight further projects. With the latest round of selections, the Grid Deployment Office (GDO) has now announced a total of $7.6bn in federal funding for 104 projects through the GRIP programme.
In total, GRIP initiatives are expected to increase grid capacity by 55GW, equivalent to powering more than 40 million homes each year. The GRIP projects announced in October 2023 and August 2024 will also upgrade an additional 1,650 miles of transmission infrastructure.
This funding supports the US’ Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the overall benefits of specific federal investments in climate, clean energy, and other key areas reach disadvantaged communities that have historically faced underinvestment and have been disproportionately impacted by pollution.
US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said: “The devastating and deadly Hurricanes, Helene and Milton, have put on stark display how extreme weather events continue to stress the nation’s aging electric systems – but across the country, the Biden-Harris Administration is using every tool in the toolbox to make sure America’s power grid is hardened in the face of this challenge.
“The Administration’s Investing in America agenda has provided the largest grid investment in U.S. history helping us add more energy to the grid faster, improve reliability and resilience, and invest in innovative technologies so customers across the county can have access to more renewable energy and pay less for their electricity.”
