The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is allocating $2.2 billion to modernize the nation’s power grid.
This initiative, funded by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, aims to improve grid resilience to extreme weather events, reduce energy costs and increase grid capacity to meet growing demand for renewable energy.
Network modernization and reinforcement
The funding is spread across eight projects covering 18 states, adding nearly 13 gigawatts (GW) of capacity, including 4,800 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind.
These projects include innovative transmission infrastructure and cutting-edge technologies, boosting grid reliability and resilience.
Deployment of Advanced Technologies
Six projects will implement advanced technologies, such as innovative conductors, advanced distribution management systems and microgrids.
These initiatives aim to modernize around 400 miles of existing transmission lines and use dynamic line classification technologies to increase network capacity.
Federal and interstate cooperation
Collaboration between the public and private sectors and between different states is essential.
The RELIEF project, led by the Utah Office of Energy Development, aims to prevent more than 5,500 hours of potential outages for 700,000 customers in five states.
The Power Up New England project, in partnership with several states in the region, will reduce energy supply costs and create new interconnections for offshore wind power.
Outlook and Impact
The Biden-Harris administration’s investments in electrical infrastructure represent the federal government’s largest direct intervention to modernize the grid.
These projects are expected to transform the American energy landscape, enabling better integration of renewable energies and significantly improving grid resilience in the face of growing climate challenges.
This initiative is part of the “Investing in America” agenda, aimed at stimulating economic growth and securing a clean, reliable energy future for the United States.
In addition to creating thousands of well-paying jobs, these investments catalyze national collaboration for the deployment of modern grid technologies, speeding up the permitting process and increasing grid capacity to meet growing demand.
