New DOE Transmission Grants Will Deliver Reliable Power, Lower Costs and Jobs to Communities

(WASHINGTON – July 24, 2024) Today, the U.S. Department of Energy selected 20 projects across 16 states to receive up to $371 million to accelerate the permitting of high-voltage, interstate transmission projects. Funded by the historic Inflation Reduction Act, these investments will also support economic development projects along new and upgraded transmissions lines.

“These projects are going to generate real and tangible benefits for communities – bringing down energy costs, supporting resilience to extreme weather, and creating good-paying jobs and training programs,” said Ted Kelly, Director and Lead Counsel, U.S. Clean Energy at EDF. 

“Building more electric transmission is absolutely essential to connecting and delivering reliable, clean power that communities depend on. These investments will speed up the permitting and siting process to get high-impact transmission projects onto our grid faster. They also put communities front and center by requiring strong local engagement and delivering funding for community priorities and needs – from improving public school buildings to job training and education programs.

“With this announcement, the Biden-Harris administration is continuing to deliver strong action to build a modern, reliable and clean power grid.”

Key selected projects:

• The Siting and Permitting Grant to the Illinois Commerce Commission will support community engagement, digitize records, and improve public-facing databases housing data on environmental and cultural resources, in support of transmission projects that will support regional clean energy development and reliability.
• The Economic Development Grant to the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and the Town of Barnstable to support a school-based microgrid that will cut greenhouse gas pollution, improve indoor air quality and support community resilience.
• The Economic Development Grant to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians will establish the Santa Ynez Chumash Oceanographic Institute, which is a partnership with a tribe to support development and management of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary and environmentally responsible siting and development of offshore wind.

View the full list of selected projects.