The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding $57 million to the North Carolina Innovative Transmission Rebuild project, led by Duke Energy in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and the State Energy Office.
This funding, part of the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program, aims to strengthen the resilience and reliability of the power grid in the face of extreme weather conditions, and to meet the growing demand for electricity.
The 230 kV Lee-Milburnie transmission line, stretching from Raleigh to Goldsboro, covering Wake, Johnston and Wayne counties, will be rebuilt in its current location to minimize the impact on surrounding communities.
Kendal Bowman, president of Duke Energy North Carolina, says the project will help reduce outages and integrate more clean energy sources into the grid.
Economic and social impact
Rebuilding the Lee-Milburnie line will generate around 550 new jobs, in collaboration with institutions such as Nash Community College and North Carolina A&T State University.
These institutions will play a key role in training the workforce needed to support the network improvements.
Balu Gokaraju, principal investigator for the STEPs4GROWTH program, emphasizes the local economic opportunities created by this project.
DOE funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, representing the federal government’s largest investment in critical power grid infrastructure.
Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Secretary of Energy, says the investment will support grid resiliency efforts in North Carolina, while promoting clean energy and stimulating local economic growth.
Future prospects and challenges
This initiative is part of a broader context of energy transition, where infrastructure modernization is crucial to ensure reliable and sustainable energy distribution.
Scott Batson, Senior Vice President and Power System Manager at Duke Energy, emphasizes the importance of this project in improving grid security and efficiency while providing affordable, clean energy to customers.
The challenges remain numerous.
Coordination with local authorities, management of environmental impacts and the training of a skilled workforce are essential aspects to be mastered to ensure the success of this project.
The positive benefits, both economic and social, depend on the ability to meet these challenges effectively.
This $57 million financing for the reconstruction of the Lee-Milburnie transmission line in North Carolina is a significant step towards a more resilient and sustainable power grid.
This project illustrates the commitment of Duke Energy and its partners to invest in critical infrastructure while fostering local economic development.
