Biden administration announces more than $2 billion in grants to boost US power grid

This story, originally from Canary Media, highlights the recent major investment by the Biden administration to address the challenges facing the U.S. power grid. The Department of Energy has allocated $2.2 billion to eight projects in 18 states aimed at expanding and strengthening the grid. These projects involve deploying grid-enhancing technologies, building high-voltage transmission cables, and enabling wind farms to connect to the grid. The federal grants, matched by private sector and local government funds, will facilitate the connection of 13 gigawatts of new clean energy resources, including 4.8 gigawatts of offshore wind. This investment reflects a step towards achieving the Biden administration’s goal of halving carbon emissions by 2030. The projects, announced under the DOE’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships Program, focus on innovative grid deployment technologies and aim to advance an energy secure, reliable, and affordable grid that supports clean energy. Key projects include the North Plains Connector Interregional Innovation project for HVDC interconnections and the Power Up New England project to support offshore wind transmission. Additional projects will deploy advanced conductors to enhance transmission line capacity and address grid stress through behind-the-meter applications. All in all, these projects are crucial for building a resilient power grid essential to transitioning away from fossil fuels.