March 2023 Grid Deployment Office Newsletter

Recent Announcements

U.S. Department of Energy Releases Guidance for Second Award Cycle of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $6 Billion Civil Nuclear Credits Program 

On March 2, 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released application guidance for the second award cycle of the Civil Nuclear Credit (CNC) Program, a $6 billion investment made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL, provision 40323) to prevent the premature retirement of nuclear reactors across the country. While the first award cycle limited eligibility to owners or operators of nuclear power reactors that had announced intentions to retire within the four-year award period, the second award cycle is open to owners or operators of nuclear reactors that are at risk of closure by the end of the four-year award period, including such reactors that ceased operations after November 15, 2021. As the nation’s largest source of carbon free energy, nuclear energy is critical to meeting the President Biden’s goal of achieving 100% clean electricity by 2035.

Applications for the second CNC award cycle must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. MT on May 31, 2023.

Learn more about the Civil Nuclear Credit Program.

Draft DOE Study Identifies Pressing National Electric Transmission Needs

On February 24, 2023, the Grid Deployment Office (GDO) released a draft of the National Transmission Needs Study for public comment and feedback. Updated by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL, provision 40105), the Needs Study provides information about present and anticipated future capacity constraints and congestion on the nation’s electric transmission grid and serves as DOE’s triennial state of the grid report. Findings of the Needs Study will provide public insight into areas of the power grid that would benefit from increased transmission capacity.

DOE is requesting feedback on the Draft National Transmission Needs Study, specifically on the analysis used, conclusions, or any other comments or suggestions for improving the study. All public comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on April 20, 2023. A public webinar will be held on March 3, from 1:30–2:45 p.m. ET. Registration is required.

For more information, visit the National Transmission Needs Study webpage.

U.S. Department of Energy Announces New Actions to Accelerate U.S. Floating Offshore Wind Deployment

On February 22, 2023, DOE announced new investments to secure U.S. leadership in floating offshore wind development by advancing offshore wind transmission planning, research and technology, and partnerships. These announcements are part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Floating Offshore Wind Shot Summit™, with the Departments of Energy, the Interior, Commerce, and Transportation convening stakeholders to drive progress.

The Grid Deployment Office and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office announced the kick-off of the West Coast Offshore Wind Transmission Study. This 20-month study will detail transmission options to support offshore wind development in the Pacific Ocean along the U.S. West Coast and will be a part of a longer-term effort to include convenings with state policymakers, local leaders, and private industry, and eventually a report outlining key recommendations and an action plan for OSW transmission development on the West Coast.

Learn more about GDO’s offshore wind transmission federal planning and support efforts.

Department of Energy Announces $1 Billion to Improve Energy Resilience for Puerto Rico’s Most Vulnerable Households & Communities

On February 20, 2023, GDO released a Request for Information (RFI) to gather feedback from stakeholders in Puerto Rico on how to allocate $1 billion managed through the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund (Fondo de Resiliencia Energética de Puerto Rico, por sus siglas en español). After recent natural disasters and decades of underinvestment in the electric grid, this fund will be developed in consultation with local entities and communities to increase energy resilience and reduce the energy burden of vulnerable residents. This historic investment aligns with Puerto Rico’s public energy policy to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050 as well as the Biden Administration's commitment to improving the island's energy system.

Request for Information comments and input must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on April 21, 2023 and can be submitted by emailing [email protected].

Learn more about the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund.

Aprenda más sobre el Fondo de Resiliencia Energética de Puerto Rico.

Biden Administration Releases Draft Application Guidance for $553.6 Million Program to Ensure the Availability of Clean, Reliable Hydroelectric Generation Capacity

On February 8, 2023, DOE issued draft application guidance for a hydroelectric incentive program focused on maintaining and enhancing hydroelectric facilities to ensure generators continue to provide clean electricity, while improving dam safety and reducing environmental impacts. DOE requested feedback from a wide range of stakeholders, including industry, clean-energy advocates, and local governments and communities on eligibility, application requirements, and timing of incentive payments. Leveraging operational flexibility and energy storage capabilities, hydropower supports energy resource adequacy to ensure the availability of clean, reliable generation capacity allowing all Americans access to clean, resilient, and affordable electricity.

The response period for responses to the draft guidance closed on February 28, 2023, and the review process is underway. The Department does not intend to publicly announce the identities of entities that submitted comments. The final guidance and solicitation are scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2023.

For more information, visit the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives Draft Application Guidance for Comment webpage.

Readout of Secretary Granholm’s Third Visit to Puerto Rico

On February 3, 2023, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm concluded a weeklong visit to Puerto Rico. Throughout the trip, the Secretary sat down with community members across the eastern region of Puerto Rico providing updates on the Department’s urgent work to help repair and modernize Puerto Rico’s grid with clean and reliable power sources. The Secretary also discussed the next steps for allocating the $1 billion Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund, authorized by President Biden in December 2022 and administered through the DOE’s Puerto Rico Grid Recovery and Modernization Team, for activities that will improve resilience for Puerto Rico’s electric grid.

Learn more about Secretary Granholm’s visit to Puerto Rico.

News and Updates

Deadline Approaches for the First Two Years of Funding for the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants

The Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants program aims to improve energy resilience to all hazards in the U.S. and mitigate climate-related risk, invest in modernized grid infrastructure, clean energy, and decarbonization solutions, and create good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union. The non-competitive funding opportunity will distribute up to $2.3 billion over five years and will provide grants to States, Territories, and Tribes based on a formula, which accounts for land area, probability of disruptive events, severity of disruptive events, expenditure on mitigation efforts, and population.

The program application is now open and the deadline for the first two years of funding is March 31, 2023.

Learn more about the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants.

The White House Highlights GDO's Offshore Wind Transmission Planning Efforts

On February 22, 2023, the Administration released a fact sheet featuring key efforts to support the Administration’s goal to reduce the cost of floating offshore wind energy by more than 70% by 2035 and deploy 15 gigawatts of floating offshore wind by 2035. These coordinated actions, including the West Coast Offshore Wind Transmission Study, being led by the Grid Deployment Office and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office, to help position the U.S. to lead the world on floating offshore wind technology, create thousands of good-paying jobs, lower energy costs for families, and strengthen U.S. energy security.

Read the full fact sheet.

Request for Information Closed for the Transmission Siting and Economic Development Grants Program

The comment period for the Transmission Siting and Economic Development (TSED) Grants Program Request for Information closed on February 28, 2023, and GDO is currently reviewing responses. GDO will continue to collect input and information from stakeholders as it designs the TSED program and develops a potential Funding Opportunity Announcement.

Learn more about the Transmission Siting and Economic Development Grants Program.

Subscribe to the GDO Newsletter

Did you know that GDO offers subscriptions to program-specific news and updates? On February 14, GDO published the first issue of the Puerto Rico Energy Recovery and Resilience Newsletter, which was also available in Spanish.

Make sure you opt-in to receive program specific information about funding opportunities, webinars, requests for information, and more.

Specific programs include:

• Building a Better Grid Initiative and Transmission Planning
• Civil Nuclear Credits
• Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program
• Hydroelectric Incentives
• Information for States and Tribes
• National Transmission Planning Study
• Puerto Rico Efforts

Subscribe to receive program-specific news and updates.

The Grid Deployment Office is Hiring

Apply now to join the Grid Deployment Office! We are looking for a Program Manager on our Territories and Recovery Team to lead the implementation, growth, and strategic direction of the grid resilience funding in the U.S. territories – including a $1 billion program to improve grid resilience in Puerto Rico.

We are also recruiting passionate people interested in grid modernization, transmission deployment, and power generation to help us achieve our mission to deliver reliable, clean, and affordable energy to more Americans. Positions are available across the country and many opportunities offer the ability to work remotely.

Visit our career page to learn more about the application process.

Grid and Transmission Program Conductor

Determine which funding opportunity for grid improvements may be right for your project with the Grid and Transmission Program Conductor. Acting as a clearinghouse for GDO’s transmission and grid resilience financing programs, as well as other existing DOE transmission and grid programs, the Conductor’s interactive tool can help identify which opportunities may be best suited to individual projects. Along with the interactive tool, the Conductor provides comprehensive information about available funding opportunities and the application process.

Visit the Grid and Transmission Program Conductor today.

Open Opportunities

Recent Meeting Materials

Editor’s Note: This newsletter was updated on 3/6/23 to reflect the updated deadline to submit public comments for the National Transmission Needs Study.