Grid Deployment Office: January Newsletter
Grid Deployment Office | U.S. Department of Energy
DOE GDO leads efforts to modernize and upgrade the U.S. electrical grid and critical electricity-generating facilities.
Recent Announcements
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Intent to Open State and Tribal Grants to Modernize Electric Grid, Reduce Impacts of Climate-Driven Extreme Weather
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants FY24 allocation application period will open in January 2024.
As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda—a key pillar of Bidenomics—GDO published fiscal year 2024 (FY24) grant allocation amounts and released a Notice of Intent to open the FY24 Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants application and allocation request period in January 2024. The application period will open with the issuance of an amended Administrative and Legal Requirements Document (ALRD) providing instructions for FY24 grant allocation requests. Supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by GDO, these grants help modernize the electric grid to reduce the impacts of climate-driven extreme weather and natural disasters while also ensuring the reliability of the power sector.
DOE expects to issue the ALRD and begin accepting applications and allocations requests in January 2024.
Final Guidance Issued for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) Designation Process
On December 19, 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Grid Deployment Office (GDO) released final guidance for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) designation process. This process will enable DOE to independently identify narrow areas in the country where transmission development is urgently needed and to work with affected states, tribes, local communities, and industry to accelerate the development of transmission projects in those areas. Public input will be critical in pinpointing areas of the country where consumers are harmed because too few power lines are being built.
The initial window for public submission for information and recommendations on NIETC designation will remain open until February 2, 2024.
An information webinar was held on January 3, 2024. Slides are now available and a recording will be uploaded in the coming weeks.
GDO Announces Grid Resilience Technical Assistance Consortium Funding Opportunity to Accelerate Analysis of Regional Climate Change Threats and Impacts on Electric Grid Infrastructure
On January 4, 2024, GDO released the Grid Resilience Technical Assistance Consortium funding opportunity to provide technical assistance for grid resilience planning and decision-making to accelerate analysis of regional climate change threats and impacts on electric grid infrastructure.
The initial grant opportunity of up to $2 million will support the formation of regional consortium made up of universities, non-profits, and industry organizations that will enable Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant recipients to leverage existing models, tools, and methodologies that would allow rapid decision-making to prioritize investments for impactful community benefits.
The deadline for applications for potential consortium members closes at 5:00 p.m. ET on February 15, 2024.
News and Updates
2023 Wrap-Up: Creating Powerful Connections
That’s a wrap! It was an electric year at GDO in 2023, where we created powerful connections to provide reliable, affordable electricity when and where it is needed.
As part of our 2023 wrap up, we reflected on the vital collaboration, meaningful community engagement, historic investments, remarkable effort, and many other powerful connections that go into modernizing and maintaining our nation’s power grid for present and future generations. We cannot do this important and impactful work without you.
Creating Powerful Connections
These powerful connections help build a reliable grid that powers everyday life:
Stay plugged in with us as we spotlight the great work happening across GDO by subscribing to our blogs and connecting with us on Facebook and LinkedIn!
U.S. Department of Energy Top Clean Energy Accomplishments in 2023
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) made monumental strides in advancing the clean energy goals of the Biden-Harris Administration. Through hundreds of funding announcements to make clean energy more accessible in every state, investments in scientific research, historic groundbreakings, and celebratory ribbon cuttings, DOE has been hard at work to combat the climate crisis, lower costs for American families, and pave a path for our clean energy future.
How Consumers Are Harmed by the Lack of Transmission
Electric power transmission and distribution—the process of moving electricity from where it is produced to where it is used—is an essential part of everyday life. The nation’s transmission and distribution systems, also known as the power grid, play a key role in keeping the lights on, heating and cooling homes, charging phones and electric vehicles, and keeping essential services going. We expect the power to always be there, but not having transmission infrastructure to move power from where it is available to where it is needed can cause problems for consumers across the country.
Let’s explore a few ways that a lack of transmission can harm consumers and how our work at the Department of Energy is helping address these challenges:
Invitation: PR100 Final Results Public Release Event on February 7, 2024
Join us for a public event on February 7, 2024, from 3:30–5 p.m. AST (2:30–4 p.m. EST), for a presentation and discussion on the final results from the Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transition to 100% Renewable Energy (PR100) Study.
Led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the PR100 Study has been a two-year effort resulting in stakeholder-driven pathways for Puerto Rico to meet its clean energy goals.
This event will be presented in English with captioning and live interpretation in both Spanish and American Sign Language.
January 17 West Coast Offshore Wind Transmission Convening Series Kickoff Meeting
Grid Deployment Office and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management bring together industry experts and decision makers
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On January 17, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PT/1:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office (GDO) and the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will host the West Coast Offshore Wind Transmission Convening Series kickoff meeting.
Throughout 2024, GDO and BOEM will host a series of Convening Workshops with subject matter experts and decision makers, including Tribal Nations, state governments, and regional transmission operators to gather input about West coast offshore wind transmission planning needs and challenges. The kickoff webinar on January 17, 2024, will preview the goals and plan for the upcoming Convening Series. Registration is required.
Celebrate the second anniversary of the Building a Better Grid Initiative!
DOE's Building a Better Grid Initiative, launched January 12, 2022, is catalyzing the nationwide development of new and upgraded high-capacity electric transmission lines and supporting investments to modernize the flexibility and resilience of the distribution system to create a more resilient electric grid. The initiative, enabled by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and administered by GDO, brings together community and industry stakeholders to identify national transmission and distribution needs and supports the buildout of long-distance, high-voltage transmission facilities and distribution systems that are critical to reaching President Biden’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035 and a zero-emissions economy by 2050.
Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program FY24 and FY25 Funding Opportunity
On November 14, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration announced up to $3.9 billion available through the second round funding opportunity of the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025.
Concept papers are a required first step in the application process and are due at 5:00 p.m. ET on January 12, 2024.
Learn more with new Frequently Asked Questions and Concept Paper Guidance Training Video.
Catch Up on the Latest Blogs from GDO
Get to know GDO better by subscribing to our new GovDelivery topic, “GDO Blogs, Success Stories, and Project Updates.” By opting in, you will receive notifications whenever we post new blogs, program profiles, employee spotlights, and much more.
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Explore Available Grid Resilience and Transmission Planning Resources
Do you know which transmission planning and grid resilience financing program is right for your project? With more options now for financing and investment through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as other existing DOE transmission and grid programs, GDO’s Grid and Transmission Program Conductor’s interactive tool can help identify which opportunities may be best suited to bring your project to fruition.
Are you interested in figuring out which program can help you build an affordable, reliable, clean energy future for your community? GDO’s State and Tribal Grid Resilience and Transmission Planning Resource Hub provides valuable resources geared specifically to community partners to ensure we maximize regional and community benefits.
Check out the Grid and Transmission Program Conductor and the State and Tribal Grid Resilience and Transmission Planning Resource Hub.
Open Opportunities
OPPORTUNITY: Grid Resilience Technical Assistance Consortium FOA
Upcoming Events
Recent Meeting Materials
Meeting: January 3 National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) Designation Process Final Guidance Informational Webinar
Meeting: Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program Concept Paper Guidance Training Video
For more video content from GDO, including messages from GDO leadership, recordings from past webinars, explainer videos, and more, check out GDO’s YouTube playlist on the DOE YouTube channel.