Read the October 2023 issue of the Grid Deployment Office Newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy.
October 5, 2023
minute read time
Recent Announcements
Biden-Harris Administration Delivers More than $748 Million in Grid Resilience Formula Grants to States, Territories, and Tribal Nations Across the Country
As of September 28, 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has distributed more than $748 million in Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants, as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by the Grid Deployment Office, the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants will help modernize the electric grid to reduce impacts of climate-driven extreme weather and natural disasters while also ensuring power sector reliability.
Over the next five years, the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants will distribute a total of $2.3 billion to States, Territories, and federally recognized tribes, including Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Alaska Native Village Corporations, based on a formula that includes factors such as population size, land area, probability and severity of disruptive events, and a locality’s historical expenditures on mitigation efforts. The States, Territories, and tribes will then award these funds to eligible entities to complete a diverse set of projects, with priority given to efforts that generate the greatest community benefit while providing clean, affordable, and reliable energy. Grant recipients are being announced on a rolling basis as applications are received. Applications for the fiscal year (FY) 22 and FY 23 are now closed.
Meet the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants awardees.
Biden-Harris Administration Releases Roadmap to Accelerate Offshore Wind Transmission and Improve Grid Resilience and Reliability
On September 19, 2023, DOE and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) released An Action Plan for Offshore Wind Transmission Development in the U.S. Atlantic Region, a set of bold actions that will catalyze offshore wind energy, strengthen the domestic supply chain, and create good-paying, union jobs. The comprehensive Action Plan developed by DOE’s Grid Deployment and Wind Energy Technologies Offices (WETO) and DOI’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) outlines immediate actions needed to connect the first generation of Atlantic offshore wind projects onto the electric grid, and longer-term efforts to support needed transmission over the next several decades. Coordinated planning can help speed up timelines and lower project costs, while strengthening grid reliability and resilience.
DOE also announced the launch of the Tribal Nation Technical Assistance Program for Offshore Wind Transmission offering education and training resources to support engagement in offshore wind planning and created in direct response to tribal input. Together, these activities will advance equitable and sustainable offshore wind energy development, domestic manufacturing, and grid integration, as part of broader efforts across the Biden-Harris Administration to deploy 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind in the United States by 2030, unlocking a pathway to 110 GW or more by 2050.
Biden-Harris Administration Invests $9 Million to Support State Participation in Wholesale Electricity Markets, Reducing Energy Costs
On September 29, 2023, GDO announced a $9 million investment to improve state and regional participation in wholesale electricity markets. Engaging state and regional utilities and system operators in wholesale markets can decrease their cost of electricity, often lowering energy bills for consumers. Administered by DOE’s Grid Deployment Office, the Wholesale Electricity Market Studies and Engagement Program (WEMSE) will provide technical and financial assistance to states and regional system operators to develop, expand, and improve wholesale electricity markets. This engagement will ensure these stakeholders are able to provide critical insight into market design, expansion, and improvement activities, including interregional transmission infrastructure development.
The WEMSE program will include three rounds of funding. Concept papers for the first round of WEMSE funding are due on November 3, 2023, 5:00 p.m. ET.
News and Updates
U.S. Department of Energy Extends Application Period for Solar Ambassador Prize
On July 31, 2023, GDO announced the Solar Ambassador Prize, a funding opportunity for up to 20 community organizations to help accelerate the installation of residential solar and battery storage systems on roughly 30,000–40,000 homes across Puerto Rico. The application deadline for this program is now extended to October 10, 2023, at 5 PM AT/ET. In addition, the funding opportunity was increased from $3.5 million to $3.85 million.
For more details on eligibility and other aspects of the Solar Ambassador Prize, please consult GDO’s Solar Ambassador Prize webpage.
DOE Invests More Than $18 Million to Continue Empowering Low-Income, Energy-Burdened Communities to Support Clean Energy-Related Economic Development
On September 27, 2023, DOE launched the second round of Communities LEAP (Local Energy Action Program) to support efforts in disadvantaged communities and those with historical ties to fossil fuel industries to take direct control of their clean energy future. Communities LEAP, which first launched in September 2021, is releasing guidance for eligible communities to apply for more than $18 million worth of technical assistance to develop and advance locally driven energy plans to reduce local air pollution, increase energy resilience, lower utility costs and energy burdens, and create good-paying jobs.
This technical assistance opportunity is managed by DOE’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs and offered in partnership with DOE’s Offices of Economic Impact and Diversity, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Grid Deployment, Electricity, Indian Energy, Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains, and Nuclear Energy. While this is not a funding opportunity announcement, selected communities may have the opportunity to receive funds—up to $50,000—for services rendered to help implement the technical assistance.
The application deadline is December 14, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Selections are expected to be announced February 2024.
The Grid Deployment Office is Hiring!
Our office continues to actively recruit for a variety of positions based in Washington, D.C., as well as remote and hybrid positions. Last month, we hosted a virtual information session and career fair! Check out the recording of our webinar to learn more about how you can help support our mission to provide clean, reliable, and affordable electricity when and where it is needed.
Subscribe to the GDO Newsletter
Did you know that GDO offers subscriptions to program-specific news and updates? Make sure you opt-in to receive program-specific information about funding opportunities, webinars, requests for information, and more.
Specific programs/topics 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
- Offshore Wind Transmission Planning
- Puerto Rico Grid Recovery and Modernization
Explore Available Grid Resilience and Transmission Planning Resources
Do you know which transmission planning and grid resilience financing program is right for your project? With more options now for financing and investment through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as other existing DOE transmission and grid programs, GDO’s Grid and Transmission Program Conductor's interactive tool can help identify which opportunities may be best suited to bring your project to fruition.
Are you interested in figuring out which program can help you build an affordable, reliable, clean energy future for your community? GDO’s State and Tribal Grid Resilience and Transmission Planning Resource Hub provides valuable resources geared specifically to community partners to ensure we maximize regional and community benefits.
Check out the Grid and Transmission Program Conductor and the State and Tribal Grid Resilience and Transmission Planning Resource Hub.
Open Opportunities
|
OPPORTUNITY |
TYPE |
RESPONSE DUE |
|
Wholesale Electricity Market Studies and Engagements Program |
Funding Opportunity |
11/3/23 |
|
Transmission Siting and Economic Development (TSED) Grant Program |
Funding Opportunity |
10/31/23 |
|
Application Guidance Orientación para la Solicitud |
EXTENDED: 10/10/23 |
Recent Meeting Materials
|
DATE |
MEETING |
MATERIALS |
|
9/19/23 |
Grid Resilience Formula Grant Metrics Guidance Webinar for Grant Recipients |
|
|
9/14/23 |
Transmission Siting and Economic Development FOA Webinar |
|
|
9/12/23 |
GDO Virtual Information Session and Career Fair |
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.