The Joe Biden administration unveiled a significant milestone in its commitment to bolstering the U.S. power grid, announcing $3.5 billion in grants for vital projects aimed at fortifying the aging grid against extreme weather, wildfires, and enhancing connectivity with transmission systems to accommodate higher renewable energy integration.
US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm revealed that the funding would be allocated to 58 projects spanning 44 states, financed through the bipartisan infrastructure law signed by President Joe Biden in 2021. This initiative stands as the most extensive direct investment ever made into the nation’s grid.
The U.S. power grid, much of which was established nearly a century ago, is grappling with the escalating impacts of climate change-driven storms, floods, heatwaves, while simultaneously facing heightened power demands due to the surge in electric vehicles and artificial intelligence deployment.
Granholm emphasized that the grid, in its current state, is inadequately equipped to handle the rising demand, necessitating significant upgrades to increase its capacity, resilience, and efficiency to support new and evolving projects.
Among the expected outcomes, these projects will inject over 35 gigawatts of new electricity into the grid from renewable sources like wind and solar. Furthermore, they will invest in 400 microgrids, establishing more self-sufficient energy systems to enhance resilience.
The Department of Energy (DOE) stated that over 75 percent of these projects are in collaboration with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union, underscoring the initiative’s focus on maintaining or creating union jobs.
This funding allocation marks the initial round of selections within the broader $10.5 billion grid resilience and innovation partnerships program managed by the DOE.
A significant portion of the grants, totaling more than $507 million, will be directed to the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority and other entities. This funding will support a project aimed at upgrading a smart grid with battery storage, local microgrids, and new transmission lines, with a focus on aiding remote and under-invested communities.
In southeastern Pennsylvania, PECO Energy plans to bolster grid reliability and resilience by implementing substation flood mitigation, replacing aging infrastructure, and deploying battery systems for backup power.
Several projects intend to enhance transmission infrastructure across multiple states. In Western states such as California, Arizona, and Washington, Holy Cross Energy will collaborate with a consortium of 39 rural electric cooperatives to launch a wildfire mitigation project in high-threat areas. The initiative will focus on network hardening through investments in fire-resistant infrastructure, placing lines underground, and upgrading overhead lines to mitigate the risk of wildfires impacting the grid.