The US Department of Energy has announced the second round of funding for the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program, allocating $2.2 billion to support eight transmission and innovative technology projects across 18 states.
One notable project, the North Plains Connector Interregional Innovation Consortium, received a $700 million grant to develop the North Plains Connector. This project involves constructing an approximately 415-mile, up to 525 kilovolt high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line connecting the US eastern and western electric grids in Montana and North Dakota. The North Plains Connector will accommodate all sources of electrical power generation, including renewable energy, and will transport power bidirectionally.
Additionally, the New York Power Authority secured $30 million for its “Transforming the Empire State: Clean Path New York” project.
Ray Long, President and CEO of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), expressed support for the Department of Energy's investments, stating, “We are very pleased to see the Department of Energy making critical investments in America's transmission system that will benefit our national economy and help ensure a clean, reliable electric grid.”
The GRIP program grants, issued by the Grid Deployment Office, are expected to create over 5,000 high-paying jobs and add approximately 1,000 miles of transmission to the grid, facilitating the delivery of low-cost clean energy to homes and businesses across the country. Long emphasized the significance of innovative technologies, such as HVDC, high-performance conductors, and grid-enhancing technologies, in expediting grid upgrades and addressing transmission constraints cost-effectively.
“We congratulate the ACORE members included in this round of awards and commend the Administration for investing in projects that benefit underserved communities, keep electricity costs from rising, and improve the reliability of our grid,” Long added.
