[USA] DOE announces $34 million in funding for technologies to underground power lines

On January 16, 2024, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced $34 million for 12 projects across 11 states to strengthen and modernize America’s aging power grid through the development of cost-effective, high-speed, and safe undergrounding technologies.[1] Selected projects in the program, called the Grid Overhaul with Proactive, High-speed Undergrounding for Reliability, Resilience, and Security (GOPHURRS), will advance innovative solutions to help upgrade and expand the nation’s grid infrastructure—lowering costs, reducing inefficiencies, mitigating disruptions from extreme weather events, and accelerating the adoption of renewable clean energy resources.

The electric power distribution system in the U.S. has over 5.5 million line-miles with over 180 million power poles and is susceptible to damage by weather and its effects, accounting for a majority of power outages in the country each year. Extreme weather events fueled by climate change are increasing the frequency and intensity of power outages across the U.S. Undergrounding power lines can improve the system reliability for both transmission and distribution grids. Managed by DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), projects under the program will play a critical role in developing technologies to reduce costs, increase speed, and improve the safety of undergrounding operations.“Modernizing our nation’s power grid is essential to building a clean energy future that lowers energy costs for working Americans and strengthens our national security,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “With today’s announcement, DOE is supporting teams across the country as they develop innovative approaches to burying power infrastructure underground—increasing our resilience and bringing our aging grid into the 21st Century.”

[1] https://arpa-e.energy.gov/news-and-media/press-releases/us-department-energy-announces-34-million-improve-reliability

[USA] DOE report: Salton Sea's lithium supply could fuel U.S. clean energy expansion

A report released by the Department of Energy (DOE) on November 28, 2023, found that given expected technology advances, California’s Salton Sea region could produce more than 3,400 kilotons of lithium, enough to support over 375 million batteries for electric vehicles (EVs).[1] The mineral is critical for reaching the Biden administration’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 as it is key in the production of batteries for storage and EVs. Currently, the U.S. relies primarily on imported lithium. However, the DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) found that with technology advancements, the vast supply of lithium in the Salton Sea could be obtained via direct lithium extraction (DLE)  from geothermal brines, a byproduct of geothermal electricity generation that often has high concentrations of minerals. The Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area (KGRA) has about 400 MW of installed geothermal capacity, and up to 2,950 MW is possible in the region. According to a report from the California Energy Commission, Salton Sea KGRA is believed to have the highest concentration of lithium contained in geothermal brines in the world.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/us-department-energy-analysis-confirms-californias-salton-sea-region-be-rich-domestic#:~:text=Conducted%20by%20DOE's%20Lawrence%20Berkeley,the%20total%20number%20of%20vehicles

[USA] DOE offers $3.5B for battery manufacturing

On November 15, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $3.5 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to boost domestic production of advanced batteries and battery materials.[1] The funding is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and will create new, retrofitted, and expanded domestic facilities for battery-grade processed critical minerals, battery precursor materials, battery components, and cell and pack manufacturing. The opportunity is administered by DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC). This funding opportunity is the second phase of $6 billion in total provided by the BIL. In the first phase, the DOE awarded fifteen projects that could catalyze over $5.8 billion in public/private investment. This next phase will boost domestic battery materials processing as well as battery production. The DOE said it will prioritize projects that create jobs for low- and moderate-income communities and support the administration’s Justice40 Initiative, a plan that 40% of overall benefits from federal investments go to underserved communities.

The DOE will prioritize next-generation technologies and battery chemistries in addition to lithium-based technologies. Other focus areas include precursor production and manufacturing for medium- and heavy-duty vehicle markets. The department said it “is also calling for projects that will increase separation of battery-grade critical materials, expand production facilities for cathode and anode materials production, and expand battery component manufacturing facilities (i.e., projects that will attract further investment into topic areas solicited in the program’s first phase).” Concept papers are due January 9, 2024, while applications are due March 19, 2024.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-35-billion-strengthen-domestic-battery-manufacturing

[USA] DOE releases draft road map for improving grid interconnection processes

On October 25, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) released a draft roadmap for transforming grid interconnection processes.[1] The draft plan was developed through the DOE’s Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange(i2X) stakeholder initiative and 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 renewable projects seeking to get built. New clean energy projects must go through complicated approval processes before they come online. The high volume of projects in the interconnection queue has led to uncertainties, delays, inequities, and increased costs. The draft plan focuses on four areas: increasing interconnection data access and transparency, improving the process (including speeding it up), promoting economic efficiency, and maintaining grid reliability. It calls for ensuring more equal access to interconnection queues. DOE released a request for information (RFI) to solicit input from interconnection stakeholders, and responses are due by November 22, 2023. The department expects to finalize the roadmap and release a draft second volume that focuses on the distribution grid in the coming months.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/doe-releases-draft-roadmap-improve-interconnection-clean-energy-resources-nations

[USA] DOE selects 7 hydrogen hubs for $7B IIJA funding

On October 13, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it had selected seven regional hydrogen hubs in Appalachia, California, the Gulf Coast, the Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, and a Heartland hydrogen hub comprising Minnesota and the Dakotas.[1] The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) passed in 2021 set aside $8 billion to create Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) nationwide. $1 billion of this funding will be spent on initiatives to support demand for clean hydrogen. The selected hubs are expected to collectively produce three million metric tons of hydrogen annually, nearly a third of the 2030 U.S. production target. The DOE also said these hubs will reduce 25 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from end-uses annually.

Each H2Hub was required to develop and ultimately implement a comprehensive Community Benefits Plan (CBP), which will be informed by community and labor engagements in each region. The DOE indicated that the selection for award negotiations was not final. The hubs are subject to a negotiation process, and the DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time. In September 2023, the DOE issued a Request for Proposals to solicit a U.S. entity to execute a demand-side initiative to ensure the clean hydrogen economy's long-term success and support the hubs' development. This initiative seeks to ensure that both producers and end users in the H2Hubs have market certainty.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-7-billion-americas-first-clean-hydrogen-hubs-driving

[USA] DOE announces $3 billion partial loan guarantee to Sunnova

On September 28, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE), through its Loan Programs Office (LPO), announced that it has finalized a $3 billion partial loan guarantee to Sunnova Energy Corporation’s Project Hestia.[1] The announcement is the federal government’s single largest commitment to solar energy and the DOE’s first loan guarantee for a virtual power plant (VPP). Project Hestia will make distributed energy resources (DERs), such as rooftop solar, battery storage, and VPP-ready, consumer-facing software, available to homeowners and create more than 3,400 jobs. The project will provide loans for clean energy systems for approximately 75,000 to 115,000 homeowners throughout the U.S., including Puerto Rico. It will benefit disadvantaged communities with high energy burdens that would otherwise have difficulty accessing clean energy. According to the DOE, over the next 25 years, the approximately 568 MW project is expected to avoid an estimated 7.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide—roughly equivalent to eliminating carbon dioxide emissions from 1.5 million vehicles on the nation’s roads for a year.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/lpo/articles/doe-announces-3-billion-partial-loan-guarantee-sunnovas-project-hestia

[USA] DOE, Interior release plan for developing offshore wind transmission in the Atlantic

On September 19, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of the Interior released “An Action Plan for Offshore Wind Transmission Development in the U.S. Atlantic Region.” [1] The DOE’s Grid Deployment and Wind Energy Technologies Offices and the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) developed the action plan and outlines immediate actions needed to connect Atlantic offshore wind projects to the electric grid. It also details longer-term efforts to support needed transmission over the next several decades.

The plan includes several key recommendations broken down by timelines. Prior to 2025, the plan calls for establishing collaborative bodies that span the Atlantic region and recommends clarifying some of the building blocks of transmission planning, including updating reliability standards and identifying where offshore transmission may interconnect with the onshore grid. It also seeks to address costs through voluntary cost assignments and tax credits. In the 2025 to 2030 timeframe, the plan recommends coordination with states to plan for an offshore transmission network and with industry to standardize requirements for HDVC technology. From 2030 to 2040, it calls for establishing a national HDVC testing and certification center to ensure compatibility when interconnecting multiple HVDC substations to form an offshore grid network. The DOE and multiple Atlantic states have started on the recommendations, forming an Offshore Wind Transmission State Collaborative.

[1] https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/biden-harris-administration-releases-roadmap-accelerate-offshore-wind-transmission-and

[USA] DOE wind studies project strong growth

On August 24, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) released three annual wind reports—Land-Based Wind Market Report, Offshore Wind Market Report, and Distributed Wind Market Report—showing that wind power is one of the fastest-growing and lowest-cost sources of electricity in the U.S. and is poised for rapid growth.[1] The reports found that wind power accounted for 22% of new electricity capacity installed in 2022, second only to solar energy. Since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August 2022, forecasts for land-based wind energy installed in 2026 have increased nearly 60% from about 11,500 MW to 18,000 MW. In addition, there have been at least eleven announcements of manufacturing facilities that plan to open, re-open, or expand to serve the land-based wind industry. The advanced manufacturing production tax credit in the IRA is estimated to reduce the cost of offshore wind blades by 27% and steel towers by 18%.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/us-department-energy-projects-strong-growth-us-wind-power-sector

[USA] DOE announces $1.2 billion for DAC demonstrations in Texas and Louisiana

On August 11, 2023, the Department of Energy announced up to $1.2 billion to advance the development of two commercial-scale direct air capture (DAC) facilities in Texas and Louisiana.[1] The projects are the first facilities of this scale in the U.S. and are the first selections for the Regional Direct Air Capture Hubs program, which was funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and aims to jumpstart a nationwide network of large-scale carbon removal sites. The recipients included Project Cypress of Louisiana and South Texas DAC Hub. Battelle runs Project Cypress in coordination with Climeworks Corporation and Heirloom Carbon Technologies, Inc. South Texas DAC was created by 1PointFive, a subsidiary of Occidental, and its partners Carbon Engineering Ltd and Worley. The two projects are anticipated to remove more than 2 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually while providing 4,800 jobs. The DOE stated that 19 additional DAC projects were selected for award negotiations to support earlier stages of project development, be they feasibility assessments or front-end engineering and design studies.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-12-billion-nations-first-direct-air-capture

[USA] DOE proposal could reduce permitting time for transmission

On August 10, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) proposed a rule to establish the Coordinate Interagency Transmission Authorization and Permits (CITAP) Program to streamline the federal permitting process for major onshore transmission lines.[1] The proposal is in response to the 2023 debt ceiling deal and would set deadlines for federal authorizations and permits for electric transmission on a two-year timeline. Currently, the process of building transmission projects can take more than a decade. While many factors contribute to the lengthy process of building transmission projects,  the CITAP program aims to ensure that the federal permitting processes are efficient and robust to enable transmission to be brought online more quickly. The DOE's plan would not override local and state permits that developers need to build transmission lines.

The proposed rule would require developers to complete Integrated Interagency Preapplication (IIP) Process for their projects to participate in the CITAP Program. Applicants would need to submit plans for engaging with stakeholders throughout the life of the project. The DOE's proposal also states that developers could appeal to the president if the department fails to act on a project application within two years or denies it. The Grid Deployment Office (GDO), which will administer the CITAP Program, is now seeking public comment and feedback on the proposed program and a public webinar will be held on August 23, 2023.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/gdo/articles/biden-harris-administration-proposes-rulemaking-streamline-and-set-deadlines-federal

[USA] DOE announces $45M to bolster domestic solar manufacturing

On July 6, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced $45 million to support pilot manufacturing of solar components to help boost the domestic manufacturing sector.[1] The funding, called the Silicon Solar Manufacturing and Dual-use Photovoltaics Incubator, includes $18 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and will also support the development of dual-use solar technologies, such as agrivoltaics, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), floating PV, and vehicle-integrated PV. According to the DOE, dual-use PV has the potential to minimize land-use concerns.

The funding opportunity will fund up to 12 projects to help establish a network of manufacturers focused on key materials such as polysilicon production, silicon ingots and wafers, solar cells, glass and other module components, and associated manufacturing equipment. Concept papers for the funding opportunity are due by September 27, 2023.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-45-million-boost-domestic-solar-manufacturing

[USA] DOE launches $1B plan to support clean hydrogen program

On July 5, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) released a Notice of Intent (NOI) to invest up to $1 billion in a demand-side initiative to support Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs).[1] Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the H2Hubs program will help form the foundation of a national clean hydrogen network. According to the announcement, the investment will “help ensure both producers and end users in the H2Hubs have the market certainty they need during the early years of production to unlock private investment and realize the full potential of clean hydrogen.” The clean hydrogen sector could provide 100,000 net new direct and indirect jobs by 2030 according to DOE’s Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Clean Hydrogen report.

The NOI includes a Request for Information (RFI) on the program’s design and, among other things, seeks public input on potential benefits and risks, operating models, governance structures, and equipped implementing partners. Later in 2023, the Biden administration will announce the selection of six to 10 H2Hubs for a combined total funding of up to $7 billion in federal funding. The proposed mechanism outlined in the NOI will help connect the H2Hubs to prospective purchasers.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-jumpstart-clean-hydrogen-economy-new-initiative-provide-market

[USA] DOE announces initiative to encourage clean fuels and products

On May 24, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the launch of the Clean Fuels and Products Shot, an initiative that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from carbon-based fuels and products.[1] The initiative is the seventh under the DOE Energy Earthshots. The new initiative will encourage the development of sustainable feedstocks and conversion technologies necessary to produce crucial fuels, materials, and carbon-based products that are better for the environment than current petroleum-derived components. The Clean Fuels and Products Shot aims to meet projected 2050 net-zero emissions demands for 100% of aviation fuel; 50% of maritime, rail, and off-road fuel; and 50% of carbon-based chemicals by using sustainable carbon resources. According to the announcement, the initiative could help eliminate more than 650 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year by 2050.

During the DOE secretary’s announcement at the Idaho National Laboratory, a ribbon-cutting also took place for the Biofuels National User Facility. The $15 million, 3-year long facility upgrade is designed to solve critical biofuels production challenges associated with the feeding, handling, and preprocessing of diverse biomass and waste materials.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/eere/clean-fuels-products-shottm-alternative-sources-carbon-based-products

[USA] DOE releases proposed framework for national transmission corridors

On May 9, 2023, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Grid Deployment Office (GDO) released a proposed framework for designating National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETCs) for specific transmission projects.[1] NIETCs are areas where new or upgraded power lines would benefit consumers by easing existing or future constraints that limit the ability to move power to where it is needed. According to the press release, the designation of a NIETC could unlock critical federal investment and regulatory and permitting tools to spur urgent transmission investments. Specifically, transmission projects in a national corridor can use the DOE’s $2.5 billion Transmission Facilitation Program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the $2 billion Transmission Facility Financing Program under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). A NIETC designation also allows the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue permits for transmission lines in a corridor when state regulators lack the authority to site the line, have not acted on an application to site the line for over a year, or have denied an application.

Under the DOE’s proposal, transmission developers could apply for NIETC designation in areas where the department has identified transmission needs through its National Transmission Needs Study, which it expects to issue late this summer. Beyond transmission developers, the DOE is considering opening the pool of applicants to tribal authorities, states, non-transmission-owning utilities, local governments, and generation developers. The DOE has requested comments on final guidelines, procedures, and evaluation criteria for the designation process. The DOE plans to issue NIETC application guidance in Fall 2023.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/gdo/articles/doe-proposes-national-interest-electric-transmission-corridor-designation-process

[USA] DOE releases reports highlighting commercialization paths for long-duration storage, advanced nuclear, clean hydrogen

On March 21, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the launch of its Pathways to Commercial Liftoff, a series of reports charting pathways to commercialize long-duration storage[1], advanced nuclear reactors, and clean hydrogen.[2] The reports are designed to help the private sector and other stakeholders make decisions about emerging technologies that are needed to slash greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector. Each report highlights possible solutions to the challenges facing the technologies and routes to commercialization. Additional reports are expected in the coming months.

The reports concluded that by 2030, cumulative investments must increase from approximately $40 billion to $300 billion across the hydrogen, nuclear, and long-duration energy storage sectors. In the clean hydrogen report, the DOE found that production for U.S. demand could grow from about 1 million metric tons a year to about 10 MMT/year in 2030. However, despite increased investor engagement and project announcements, the DOE report states that infrastructure buildout, demand uncertainty, workforce development, and other challenges to at-scale adoption need to be addressed for clean hydrogen to realize its full potential. 

In the long-duration storage report, the DOE found that the U.S. grid may need 225 GW to 460 GW of long-duration storage to support power markets for a net zero economy by 2060, representing $330 billion in capital spending. To reach commercial viability, technological progress, cost reductions, and an increase in public and private investment must be achieved. For advanced nuclear reactors, the DOE found that U.S. nuclear capacity could triple by 2050 from about 100 GW today. The report identified several obstacles, including increasing deployment of mature technologies and building efficient and timely delivery models.

[1] The DOE defines long-duration storage as resources that can provide continuous energy for 10 hours to about 160 hours.

[2] https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-releases-new-reports-pathways-commercial-liftoff-accelerate-clean-energy-technologies

[USA] DOE proposes new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers

On December 28, 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposed new energy-efficiency standards for three categories of distribution transformers to improve the resiliency of the power grid, lower utility bills, and reduce CO2 emissions.[1] Current efficiency standards apply to liquid-immersed, low-voltage dry-type, and medium-voltage dry-type distribution transformers. The proposed rule would amend the energy conservation standards for all three categories. Under the new standards, almost all transformers produced would feature amorphous steel cores, which are more energy efficient than those made of traditional, grain-oriented electrical steel.

According to the DOE, the proposed standards would reduce CO2 emissions in the U.S. by 340 million metric tons over the next 30 years. The DOE also expects the proposed rule to generate over 10 quads of energy savings and approximately $15 billion in savings to the nation from 30 years of shipments. If adopted within DOE’s proposed timeframe, the new rule will come into effect in 2027. The agency will host a public meeting to solicit stakeholders' feedback on the proposed rulemaking on February 16, 2023.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-proposes-new-efficiency-standards-distribution-transformers

[USA] DOE announces fusion breakthrough at LLNL

On December 13, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced the achievement of fusion ignition at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California.[1] On December 5, 2022, a team at LLNL’s National Ignition Facility (NIF) conducted the first controlled fusion experiment in history to produce more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it. The experiment surpassed the fusion threshold by delivering 2.05 megajoules (MJ) of energy to the target, resulting in 3.15 MJ of fusion energy output. The LLNL’s NIF is the world’s largest and most energetic laser system—roughly the size of a sports stadium. The successful experiment is an essential step toward commercial fusion power. However, in the press release, the DOE acknowledged that many advanced science and technology developments are still needed to achieve simple, affordable fusion energy. The DOE is currently restarting a broad-based, coordinated program in the U.S.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-national-laboratory-makes-history-achieving-fusion-ignition

[USA] DOE conditionally awards Diablo Canyon nuclear plant $1.1B to prevent shutdown

On November 21, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the conditional selection of the 2,240 MW Diablo Canyon Power Plant, California’s only nuclear power plant, to receive the first round of funding from the Civil Nuclear Credit (CNC) program.[1] Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the $6 billion CNC program aims to support nuclear energy facilities at risk of retiring due to economic factors. Owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Diablo Canyon Power Plant produces approximately 16 TWh of electricity annually, about 15% of California’s clean energy.  Units 1 and 2 of the power plant were scheduled to be decommissioned in 2024 and 2025, respectively, but the conditional award, valued at about $1.1 billion, could allow the units to remain open. According to the DOE, keeping the power plant open longer will save 1,500 jobs. Final terms are subject to negotiation and finalization by the DOE.

The first CNC award cycle prioritized reactors facing the most imminent threat of closure and limited applications to reactors that had already announced that they would close due to economic factors. The second award cycle will prioritize reactors that are projected to shut down due to economic factors within the next four years. The DOE expects to begin accepting applications for the second cycle of CNC funding in January 2023.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-major-investment-preserve-americas-clean-nuclear

[USA] DOE announces initiative to cut enhanced geothermal costs by 90% by 2035

On September 8, 2022, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm announced the Enhanced Geothermal Shot, the fourth shot announced in the DOE’s Energy Earthshots Initiative.[1] The Enhanced Geothermal Shot aims to make enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) a widespread renewable energy option by cutting the cost of the technology by 90% to $45/MWh by 2035. EGS extracts heat by creating a subsurface fracture system to which water can be added through injection wells. Unlike present geothermal generation, which comes from hydrothermal reservoirs and is limited in geographic application, EGS could extend the use of geothermal resources to larger areas. According to the press release, more than five terawatts of heat resources exist in the U.S.

The DOE is investing in research and development to help reach the Enhanced Geothermal Shot goals. Recent investments include $44 million to help spur EGS innovations for DOE’s Frontier Observatory for Geothermal Energy Research (FORGE) field laboratory and up to $165 million to transfer best practices from oil and gas to advance both EGS and conventional geothermal. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) also included $84 million in funding to support four pilot EGS demonstration projects. Similar to its other Energy Earthshots Initiatives, the DOE plans to hold an Enhanced Geothermal Shot Summit.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-launches-new-energy-earthshot-slash-cost-geothermal-power

[USA] DOE announces new Building a Better Grid initiative

On January 12, 2022, the Department of Energy launched the Building a Better Grid initiative to catalyze the nationwide development of new and upgraded high-capacity transmission lines, as enabled by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.[1] According to the DOE, the initiative will make the power grid more reliable and resilient to climate change and is crucial for achieving President Biden’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035 and a zero-emissions economy by 2050. The program will also increase access to affordable clean energy and create more jobs in the transmission industry, which employs over one million workers across the U.S.

Rebuilding and improving aging roads, bridges, and electric grid is a fundamental goal of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The law seeks to address the vulnerability of the nation’s grid transmission lines and power transformers, over 70% of which are over 25 years old. Additionally, the law will help meet the increased interconnection queue waiting times for the many clean energy generation and storage projects expected to be added to the grid. As outlined in the DOE’s January 11 Notice of Intent, the initiative will support the development of nationally significant transmission projects and grid upgrades by:

• Early engagement and collaboration with states, tribal nations, and stakeholders to accelerate transmission deployment

• Enhancing transmission planning to identify areas of greatest need and conducting longer-term national-scale transmission planning analysis

• Deploying more than $20 billion in federal financing tools, which includes the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s new programs and existing funding like the $3 billion Western Area Power Administration Transmission Infrastructure Program

• Facilitating an efficient transmission permitting process by coordinating with federal agencies to streamline permitting, using public-private partnerships, and designating transmission corridors.

• Performing transmission-related research and development to continue developing and reducing the costs of technologies that enable efficiency.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-launches-new-initiative-president-bidens-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-modernize