December 2022: Grid Deployment Office Newsletter

Grid Deployment Office Amends ALRD for State and Tribal Grid Resilience Formula Grants to Include Alaska Native Regional Corporations | Department of Energy 

On November 17, 2022, the Grid Deployment Office issued an amendment to the Administrative and Legal Requirements Document (ALRD) for the State and Tribal Grid Resilience Formula Grants program to include Alaska Native Regional Corporations (ANRCs). The amendment incorporates 12 ANRCs and increases the available funding for FY22 by $2.17 million, bringing the total FY22 funding to $461 million. The amendment also provides additional information on cost match and updates other terms. The amended ALRD, additional frequently asked questions, and updated allocation of funds table are now available to review.  

The $2.3 billion formula grant program, supported by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered through the Building a Better Grid Initiative, is focused on strengthening and modernizing America’s power grid against wildfires, extreme weather, and other natural disasters exacerbated by the climate crisis. 
 

DOE Selects First-Ever Director of Puerto Rico Grid Modernization and Recovery Team | Department of Energy 

On November 2, 2022, DOE announced that Agustín Carbó has been selected to serve as the Director for the new Puerto Rico Grid Modernization and Recovery Team (PR Grid Modernization Team) within the Grid Deployment Office.  

The PR Grid Modernization Team works across the federal government—including with the Department of Commerce, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development—to coordinate technical assistance and access federal funding in an expeditious and strategic manner. The Team will work closely with government leadership in Puerto Rico to help identify and overcome impediments to rapid infrastructure deployment to provide the island with clean, reliable, and affordable power and to expedite current rebuilding activities. Read the full announcement to learn more about Director Carbó and DOE’s commitment to helping Puerto Rico achieve 100% Clean Energy by 2050. 

The White House Highlights GDO Programs 

In celebration of the anniversary of the signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Administration released fact sheets featuring achievements on transmission and grid modernization, including several from the Grid Deployment Office. The White House fact sheets highlight the transformational work GDO has achieved this past year through its three divisions: Transmission, Grid Modernization, and Power Generation Assistance. Working to provide electricity to everyone, everywhere, GDO is focused on maintaining and investing in critical generation facilities to ensure resource adequacy and improving and expanding transmission and distribution systems 

Read the full fact sheets below: 

• FACT SHEET: The Biden-⁠Harris Administration Advances Transmission Buildout to Deliver Affordable, Clean Electricity 
• FACT SHEET: One Year into Implementation of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Biden-⁠Harris Administration Celebrates Major Progress in Building a Better America 
   

GDO Debuts Interactive Feature Tool to Determine Financing Opportunities 

In November, GDO expanded the Grid and Transmission Programs Conductor to include an interactive feature to help States, Tribal nations, Territories, industry, and other stakeholders navigate through available DOE finance mechanisms and initiatives to find the program that is best for them. This new tool takes users through a series of questions and directs them to information about their match. Acting as a clearinghouse for GDO’s transmission and grid resilience funding opportunities, the Conductor's goal is to provide resources and open lines of communication to maximize the effectiveness of these programs and catalyze the development of a resilient, modern grid and transmission infrastructure for a reliable, affordable, and clean energy future. Try out the new Conductor features on our website now.  
 

GDO Launches LinkedIn Page 

GDO is strongly committed to collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders and values input on all our activities and initiatives. To expand our reach, GDO recently joined the world of social media with a LinkedIn account. In two weeks, we have gained over 600 followers. Follow us for even more news and updates. 
 

GDO To Present at Upcoming White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Webinar 

Join us for a webinar hosted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on Monday, December 5, 2022, at 4 pm ET to learn about the role of power outage data in grid modernization and funding opportunities available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The event will highlight DOE’s Outage Data Initiative Nationwide (ODIN), a network of leading electric service providers committed to providing comprehensive, interoperable power outage data. Developed through a public-private partnership and supported by more than 60 utilities in 26 states, ODIN data standards improve visibility into the severity and scope of outages while providing local emergency responders with the data they need to save lives. Register to attend. 
 

Join the GDO Team 

Supporting the resilience of our Nation’s electric system and deployment of transmission and distribution infrastructure to ensure all communities have access to reliable, affordable electricity requires a diverse and capable team. GDO is seeking applicants with interests in grid modernization, transmission deployment, and power generation, particularly in emission-free systems like nuclear power and hydropower. Staff positions are available across the country and many opportunities offer the ability to work remotely. To become part of the Clean Energy Corps and join the Grid Deployment Office, send your resume to the DOE Applicant Portal and use the referral code #GDO.