Open the May 2024 issue of the Grid Deployment Office Newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy.
May 15, 2024
minute read time
Recent Announcements
DOE Announces New Federal Permitting Rule To Slash Transmission Review Timelines in Half While Maintaining Integrity of the Environmental Review Process, New $331 Million Investment to Add More Than 2,000 Megawatts Across the Western U.S. Grid
In a continued commitment to bolster the U.S. power grid, on April 25, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a final transmission permitting reform rule and a new commitment for up to $331 million aimed at adding more than 2,000 megawatts of additional grid capacity throughout the Western United States – the equivalent to powering 2.5 million homes and creating more than 300 new, high quality and union construction jobs.
DOE Seeks Public Input on 10 Potential Locations, from Coast to Coast, That Present an Urgent Need for Expanded Transmission, Announces New Funding to Deploy Cleaner, Cheaper, Reliable Energy Across the Nation
In a continued effort to expedite the build out of a resilient and reliable electric grid, today the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a preliminary list of 10 potential National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETCs) to accelerate the development of transmission projects in areas that present an urgent need for expanded transmission. DOE also announced minimum eligibility criteria for direct loans under the Transmission Facility Financing (TFF) program. Supported by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the TFF program can finance the development of billions of dollars of transmission projects in designated NIETCs. DOE is now seeking public input on both the preliminary list of potential NIETCs and the TFF program application and evaluation process.
Learn more about the initial list of high-priority areas for accelerated transmission expansion.
Liftoff Report Finds Market at a Pivotal Point, With Rapid Growth Expected This Decade and Potential to Create Tens of Thousands of New, Good-Paying Jobs
DOE released its latest Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Offshore Wind report on April 24, 2024, describing the U.S. offshore wind market as “at an inflection point” with a path to deploying over 100 GW by 2050.
The Offshore Wind Liftoff report analyzes recent market challenges and solutions already underway, finding that the sector is adapting to recent cost pressures and will see lower risk and costs as deployment scales over time. The report concludes that the sector today is poised for liftoff, and the projects that move forward in the next several years will lay the foundation for consistent long-term deployment, decarbonization, and economic benefit across the country in support of President Biden’s ambitious goals of achieving a clean electricity system by 2035 and a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
Learn more about the latest Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Offshore Wind report.
News and Updates
Application deadline is extended to June 17, 2024
DOE has issued an amendment to the Administrative and Legal Requirements Document (ALRD) for the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program, extending the deadline for States, Indian Tribes, and Territories to apply for grants and request allocations to Monday, June 17, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
The deadline extension reflects stakeholder feedback and provides additional time for States, Indian Tribes, and Territories to prepare applications. Applications should be submitted as soon as they are complete. Applications will be processed on a rolling basis as they are received, and grants may be awarded prior to the June 17, 2024, deadline. Mail-in applications must be post-marked by the deadline.
Learn more about the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program.
GDO’s announcement of preliminary list of potential NIETCs initiates Phase 2 of the NIETC designation process, including opening a 45-day window for public comments on the geographic boundaries and potential impacts of NIETC designation on environmental, community, and other resources. For example, interested parties may provide information such as the location of wetlands, recreation areas, historic properties, residences, businesses, abandoned mines, and/or croplands.
There will be an informational webinar on May 16, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. ET to provide additional examples of critical input. Registration is required.
The public comment period will close at 5:00 p.m. ET on June 24, 2024. Submissions must be made by emailing [email protected].
Register now for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor Designation Phase 2 webinar.
Offshore wind energy will be essential for meeting the nation’s climate goals and boosting domestic renewable energy production in coastal areas, but we can’t build a robust offshore wind industry without transmission - moving electricity from where it is generated to where it is needed most. GDO is utilizing an all-of-government strategy to support development of offshore wind transmission and producing innovative action plans that can lead towards effective design and implementation of offshore wind transmission. Learn more about our work.
WTOP News recently featured GDO’s Director Maria Robinson in an interview about DOE’s three-pronged approach to lead to smarter investments in a more resilient and modern grid that relies on new software and hardware all leading to a 100% clean energy economy by 2035.
While attending BloombergNEF’s Summit in New York City, Maria found time to contribute to Bloomberg Businessweek’s podcast to share her thoughts on accelerating deployment of U.S. grid solutions to lower costs and improve reliability. She also helped announce the release of the Innovative Grid Deployment Liftoff report. The report identifies pathways to accelerate deployment of key commercially available but underutilized advanced grid solutions on the existing transmission and distribution system to address near-term hotspots and modernize the grid to prepare for a wide range of energy futures.
Maria joined Samah Shaiq, Deputy Press Secretary, Office of Public Affairs, and Albert Gore, Executive Director, Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), on the People Powered: Deploying our Electric Future podcast to discuss how the government—in partnership with coalitions like ZETA—can support the steady electric vehicle growth across the nation while continuing to keep the grid resilient and reliable. Listen to the People Powered podcast.
DOE's Puerto Rico Grid Recovery and Modernization Team recently visited the Concilio de Salud Integral de Loíza, which is able to provide vital services even through power outages thanks to its solar and battery storage system from Hispanic Federation and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).
This visit was followed by a walkthrough of the Centro Isabelino de Medicina Avanzada, a tour of Puerto Rico public housing facilities, and a roundtable with energy nonprofits and healthcare stakeholders to better understand the energy needs of critical public infrastructure. These conversations and continued stakeholder feedback are critical to DOE's efforts through the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund to provide renewable and resilient energy infrastructure to vulnerable communities in Puerto Rico.
Learn more about DOE's visit to Concilio de Salud Integral de Loíza.
Open Opportunities
| OPPORTUNITY | TYPE | RESPONSE DUE |
| Transmission Facilitation Program Public-Private Partnerships (Connecting Microgrids) | Request for proposal | PROPOSALS: 5/31/2024 |
| GDO Grid Planning Fellowship | Fellowship opportunity | APPLICATIONS: 5/31/2024 |
| Department of Energy Extends Deadline for Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program | Application | APPLICATIONS: 6/17/2024 |
| Wholesale Electricity Market Studies and Engagement Program | Funding opportunity | CONCEPTS: 6/23/2024 |
| Preliminary list of potential National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors | Request for comment | COMMENTS: 6/24/2024 |
| Transmission Facility Financing (TFF) Program | Request for comment | COMMENTS: 7/31/2024 |
Upcoming Events
| DATE | TIME | MEETING |
| 5/15/2024 | 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. ET | Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorization and Permits Final Rule Webinar |
| 5/16/2024 | 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. ET | National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor Webinar |
| 5/16/2024 | 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. ET | Round 2: Concept Paper Applicant Webinar (registration is now closed) |
| 5/16/2024 | 12:00 to 7:30 p.m. ET | American Floating Offshore Wind Technical Summit (AFloat) 2024 (in-person) |
Recent Meeting Materials
For more video content from GDO, including messages from GDO leadership, recordings from past webinars, explainer videos, and more, check out GDO’s YouTube playlist on the DOE YouTube channel.
DOE Seeks Comments for Scope of Eligible Projects and Project Financing Requirements
The Transmission Facility Financing (TFF) program provides direct loans for eligible transmission projects within a NIETC, using $2 billion in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to cover the credit subsidy cost of those loans. DOE is currently seeking public input on the scope of eligible projects and project financing requirements, including feedback from utilities and project developers that are interested in seeking direct loan support through the program for a specific project in or near one of the potential NIETCs.
Parties interested in providing comments, including utilities and project developers, are encouraged to contact DOE at [email protected] by July 31, 2024, to register input. DOE anticipates opening the TFF program in 2025.
Learn more about the TFF program.