The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a $2bn investment in 38 grid transmission projects across 42 states and Washington, D.C.
This initiative aims to strengthen grid resilience, expand capacity, and support the growing demand for solar energy – protecting the grid from extreme weather while reducing costs for communities.
This funding, part of the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program, follows the devastation caused by Hurricanes Milton and Helene in the southeastern US.
The DOE reported that bids for this funding exceeded availability by over seven times, highlighting the urgent need for grid upgrades.
Key projects include looped transmission feeds in Indiana and Illinois by Hoosier Energy and Southern Illinois Power Cooperative, connecting 10 substations across seven counties.
These upgrades will increase the grid’s capacity to integrate solar power and safeguard against extreme weather.
Another major initiative involves the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which will implement 84 resilience subprojects across seven states, adding over 2.4 GW of grid capacity and expediting solar energy deployment.
Overall, the DOE expects these projects to add over 300 miles of new transmission lines and upgrade 650 miles with advanced technologies, crucial for large-scale solar integration.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm stated that the recent hurricanes highlighted the vulnerabilities of the aging grid:
“The devastating and deadly Hurricanes, Helene and Milton, have put on stark display how extreme weather events continue to stress the nation’s aging electric systems.”
Meanwhile, White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi stressed the importance of modernising the grid for America’s renewable energy transition:
“We need our grid better adapted to storms like Hurricanes Helene and Milton – and other extreme climate disasters like the wildfires out west. We need our grid better wired to accelerate America’s manufacturing renaissance and leadership in artificial intelligence.
“Today’s investment will do that.”
With this investment, GRIP has now allocated $7.6bn to 104 projects, targeting approximately 55 GW of new transmission capacity, primarily to accelerate solar energy deployment across the US.
