Biden–Harris Administration Invests $371 Million in 20 Projects to Accelerate Transmission Permitting Across America

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Initiatives Funded by President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda Help the Enlargement of a Modernized Electrical Grid, Speed up State and Native Allowing, Create Good-Paying Jobs and Construct Up Group Infrastructure

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a continued effort to expedite the construct out of a resilient and dependable electrical grid, the U.S. Division of Vitality (DOE) right this moment introduced 20 initiatives throughout 16 states chosen to obtain as much as $371 million to speed up the allowing of high-voltage, interstate transmission initiatives. These initiatives, funded by President Biden’s Inflation Discount Act, can even assist group infrastructure initiatives alongside main new and upgraded transmissions strains, together with upgrading public college buildings and emergency response amenities. Administered by DOE’s Grid Deployment Workplace, right this moment’s Transmission Siting and Economic Development (TSED) grants will assist advance a minimum of 16 high-impact transmission strains throughout the nation supporting the deployment of dependable and reasonably priced power for customers and creating good-paying jobs.

“Today, every pocket of the country is experiencing the grueling impact of extreme weather and there’s no doubt that we must expand our transmission grid to get more clean, resilient power to more people, in more places,” mentioned U.S. Secretary of Vitality Jennifer M. Granholm. “Now, thanks to the Biden Harris Administration, we are accelerating transmission expansion all while strengthening local communities, creating good-paying jobs across the nation.”

The Biden-Harris Administration is taking a variety of actions to increase and enhance electrical transmission programs, together with streamlining federal allowing and deploying billions of {dollars} to strengthen grid infrastructure. To enhance these unprecedented federal actions TSED will assist allowing progress on the state and native degree and be sure that communities internet hosting new and upgraded transmission infrastructure profit straight. At present’s TSED picks will assist uplift communities by means of financial improvement investments that generate advantages in communities impacted by transmission improvement, whereas additionally accelerating venture critiques by siting authorities.

Chosen initiatives embody assist for:

Offering state and native siting businesses with the assets, instruments, and capability they should full well timed evaluate of transmission initiatives, which strengthens sturdy regional and interregional planning.
- Instance: Illinois Commerce Fee ($8 million): The Illinois Commerce Fee (ICC) will launch a complete new initiative to streamline and enhance the transmission siting course of for a number of Midcontinent Impartial System Operator (MISO) Lengthy Vary Transmission Planning Tranche 1 Initiatives in Illinois, which had been deliberate with important state enter utilizing MISO’s sturdy multi-factor regional transmission planning course of. Along with enhancing group engagement, the ICC can even digitize information and improve public-facing databases that home information on environmental and cultural assets alongside the 2 transmission strains beneath evaluate.
Upgrading essential infrastructure in communities impacted by transmission improvement.
- Instance: Roosevelt Custer Regional Council ($710,000) will use grant funds to increase hearth division amenities in a rural group in North Dakota to enhance group resilience.
Investing in group upgrades by growing group and tourism sights, defending cultural and heritage landmarks, and conserving lands recognized by the group as extremely valued.
- Instance: Massachusetts Division of Vitality Assets ($42.3 million) shall be deploying a microgrid at a faculty in Barnstable, Massachusetts to scale back power bills, enhance indoor air high quality, and strengthen group resilience in emergency conditions.
Supporting localized workforce improvement and coaching in communities impacted by transmission improvement. Chosen initiatives will assist the creation of coaching, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and adult-education applications:
- Instance: Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians ($5.6 million)situated in California, will assist group workforce improvement with training, coaching, {and professional} improvement in ocean and coastal coverage and science.