The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced that National Grid’s Twin States Clean Energy Link project will be one of three nationwide projects to benefit from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act’s Transmission Facilitation Program. The project has received unprecedented support from community members and key stakeholders in several states. The project aims to supply clean energy, including hydroelectricity, from Canada to support the region’s carbon reduction objectives. This strategic choice is part of a wider drive to double the capacity of the electricity grid to meet the national target of 100% clean electricity by 2035.
Considerable economic and environmental benefits
Stephen Woerner, National Grid’s President for the region, emphasized the significant economic and environmental benefits this project would bring to communities, residents and businesses. According to an independent market assessment, the project is expected to deliver over $8.3 billion in wholesale energy cost savings over the first twelve years of operation. This figure is all the more impressive given that it is accompanied by a reduction in carbon emissions, helping to combat climate change. The project also uses innovative methods, such as burying lines along existing roadways, to minimize its environmental impact.
Implications for Network Resilience and Job Creation
The project is also expected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenues for the host cities and states. It should also help create 1,200 well-paid jobs during construction. But the benefits don’t stop there. Lower electricity bills for customers and businesses across the region should create significant economic growth, with an average estimate of 3,700 jobs per year in the region.
An Innovative Model for Sustainable Development
In addition to these direct benefits, the Twin States Clean Energy Link project serves as a model for other initiatives aimed at strengthening the resilience of the power grid. It demonstrates how a strategic investment in infrastructure can deliver positive benefits on several fronts: environmental, economic and social. The project also includes a $260 million community benefits program, at least 40% of which will be devoted to the region’s disadvantaged communities. This innovative program could serve as a model for other infrastructure projects across the country.
The Twin States Clean Energy Link project represents a major step forward in efforts to strengthen the resilience of the electricity grid and accelerate the transition to clean energy. With federal support, this project has the potential not only to transform the region’s energy landscape, but also to create sustainable economic benefits for local communities.
