Grid Deployment Office: November Newsletter
Grid Deployment Office | U.S. Department of Energy
DOE GDO leads efforts to modernize and upgrade the U.S. electrical grid and critical electricity-generating facilities.
Recent Announcements
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $3.5 Billion for Largest Ever Investment in America’s Electric Grid, Deploying More Clean Energy, Lowering Costs, and Creating Union Jobs
On October 18, 2023, White House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mitch Landrieu and Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm announced $3.46 billion for 58 projects across 44 states to strengthen electric grid resilience and reliability across America, as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Funded by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these projects will leverage more than $8 billion in federal and private investments to deliver affordable, clean electricity to all Americans and ensure that communities across the nation have a reliable grid that is prepared for extreme weather worsened by the climate crisis. These transformative projects, which will all support the President’s Justice40 Initiative to benefit disadvantaged communities, will help bring more than 35 gigawatts of new renewable energy online, invest in 400 microgrids, and maintain and create good-paying union jobs with three out of four projects partnering with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)—helping deliver on the Biden-Harris Administration's ambitious climate agenda.
The Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, managed by the Grid Deployment Office (GDO), funds activities to modernize the electric grid to reduce impacts of natural disasters and extreme weather worsened by climate change; increase the flexibility, efficiency, and reliability of the electric power system with a particular focus on unlocking more solar, wind, and other clean energy and reducing faults that may lead to wildfires; and improve reliability by deploying innovative approaches to electricity transmission, storage, and distribution. Today’s announcements of up to $3.46 billion represent a first round of selections under the broader $10.5 billion GRIP Program.
DOE Announces Up to $440 Million to Install Rooftop Solar and Batteries in Puerto Rico’s Most Vulnerable Communities
On November 2, 2023, the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) announced a slate of solar companies and nonprofits selected to install rooftop solar and battery storage systems for vulnerable households in Puerto Rico through the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund (PR-ERF). The first tranche of PR-ERF funding, up to $440 million, will help lower energy bills for up to 40,000 single-family households in Puerto Rico, improve household energy resilience, and keep the lights on during extreme weather events. This funding will also support thousands of local clean energy jobs, help achieve President Biden’s goal of lowering energy costs for all Americans, as well as help Puerto Rico achieve its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050. DOE anticipates the first installations will begin in Spring 2024.
This marks the first round of selections from the 2023 PR-ERF funding opportunity, which Secretary Granholm announced in Puerto Rico in July 2023. Before the end of 2023, DOE will also announce selectees for the PR-ERF's $3.85 million Solar Ambassador Prize as well as the remaining $10 million under the PR-ERF funding opportunity, which will support outreach, education, training, and consumer protection for qualified households. Through the Solar Ambassador Prize, DOE will partner with up to 20 community organizations who will support DOE in identifying qualifying households and assisting them with the intake process for residential solar installations.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $1.3 Billion to Build Out Nation’s Electric Transmission and Releases New Study Identifying Critical Grid Needs
On October 30, 2023, DOE announced up to a $1.3 billion commitment in three transmission lines crossing six states, as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. This historic commitment, made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will advance transformative projects aimed at adding 3.5 gigawatts of additional grid capacity throughout the United States, equivalent to powering approximately 3 million homes, and creating more than 13,000 direct and indirect jobs. These projects will advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic climate agenda, strengthen grid resilience and reliability, and bring low-cost, clean electricity to more families and businesses.
To ensure that transmission buildout is done in an informed and precise manner, DOE also released the final National Transmission Needs Study to provide insight into where the grid—and American communities—would benefit from increased transmission. These collective efforts will help realize the Biden-Harris Administration’s unprecedented commitment to tackling the climate crisis and achieving a net-zero emissions economy by 2050 through the deployment of cleaner, cheaper power.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $38 Million to Support Hydropower Facilities Across the Country
On October 11, 2023, DOE announced 66 hydro facilities throughout the country will receive more than $38 million in incentive payments for electricity generated and sold, as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and with consideration of facilities located in communities with inadequate electric service, the payments provide funding for electricity generated and sold from dams and other water infrastructure, that add or expand hydroelectric power generating capabilities. These incentive payments represent DOE’s largest investment in hydroelectric facilities to date. Hydropower, with existing infrastructure across the United States, is an essential component in helping achieve the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious clean energy goals.
The Hydroelectric Production Incentives, administered by GDO, are part of a comprehensive program funded by a $750 million investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the continued operation of the U.S. hydropower fleet and ensure a more reliable and resilient electric grid system. Originally started in 2014 and expanded under the Biden-Harris Administration, Hydropower Incentives have been used to support operations and maintenance, fees and service debts, exploration of new small hydropower opportunities, as well as salary and benefits for the hydropower workforce. See the full list of selected entities.
News and Updates
GDO Extends Concept Papers Deadlines for Transmission Siting and Economic Development Grant Program and Wholesale Market Studies and Engagement Program
GDO extended the concept paper deadline for two programs to November 17, 2023.
DOE Releases Draft Roadmap to Improve Interconnection of Clean Energy Resources on the Nation’s Transmission Grid
On October 25, 2023, DOE released a draft roadmap to address interconnection challenges on the transmission grid and seeks feedback from the public before releasing a final version. DOE convened a broad group of clean energy stakeholders through its Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X) to develop the roadmap, which is intended to serve as a practical guide for implementing near- and long-term solutions to interconnect clean energy sources and to clear the existing backlog of solar, wind, and battery projects seeking to get built. The country will need to dramatically expand the deployment of solar and wind energy resources to meet the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of a decarbonized electricity sector by 2035. However, increased incentives and growing demand for renewable energy has exacerbated long wait times for the clean energy projects seeking to connect to the grid. Creating more efficient, transparent, and equitable interconnection processes will cut costs and boost clean energy development across the country.
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) have jointly issued a request for information to solicit input from interconnection stakeholders on the challenges and solution sets outlined in the roadmap. Grid operators, utilities, state and local governments, Tribal governments and tribal utilities, clean energy developers, energy justice organizations, nonprofits, trade associations, and other i2X stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback. Responses are due by November 22, 2023.
DOE Fellows Will Support Efforts to Advance Clean Energy Solutions at Critical Energy Organizations Across the United States
On October 12, 2023,?DOE announced that 29 recent graduates and early career energy professionals have been matched with critical energy organizations across 17 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to support efforts to advance clean energy solutions.
They are the latest cohort in the Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship, a unique workforce development program that provides fellows with on-the-job training and professional development opportunities while their hosts receive support to accelerate the transition to clean electricity and improve grid resiliency. Fellows come from diverse backgrounds and will support a wide range of projects covering topics including clean energy integration, expanding electric vehicle charging, Tribal energy sovereignty, distribution-level grid services, and grid resilience and energy planning in Puerto Rico.
领英推荐
DOE Hosts Justice Week 2023
On the week of October 30, 2023, DOE hosted Justice Week 2023: Equity Empowered, a five-day hybrid event aimed at advancing equity and environmental justice in the clean energy transition and ensuring climate change investments benefit the communities often left behind.
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Explore Available Grid Resilience and Transmission Planning Resources
Do you know which transmission planning and grid resilience financing program is right for your project? With more options now for financing and investment through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as other existing DOE transmission and grid programs, GDO’s Grid and Transmission Program Conductor’s interactive tool can help identify which opportunities may be best suited to bring your project to fruition.
Are you interested in figuring out which program can help you build an affordable, reliable, clean energy future for your community? GDO’s State and Tribal Grid Resilience and Transmission Planning Resource Hub provides valuable resources geared specifically to community partners to ensure we maximize regional and community benefits.
Check out the Grid and Transmission Program Conductor and the State and Tribal Grid Resilience and Transmission Planning Resource Hub.
Open Opportunities
Recent Meeting Materials
Meeting:?National Transmission Needs Study Findings Webinar
Meeting:?A Look into the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships Program Selections Webinar
For more video content from GDO, including messages from GDO leadership, recordings from past webinars, explainer videos, and more, check out GDO’s YouTube playlist on the DOE YouTube channel.
Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Greenfield and Brownfield startups, Consulting @ QSFB MBA, Trainer, Coach, Innovator
1 年We need to see the roadmap, milestones and owners reporting out per segment. It is vital to all of the world that this accountability be held in the highest regards for this to move forward. Like the Super Bowl, celebrate, and let’s get to work!??????????????