30 Oct
Monday, October 30 (Washington, D.C.) — Today, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced its Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP) awardees. Funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, TFP provides Federal support for projects that develop nationally significant transmission lines and increase resilience by connecting regions of the country. Today’s DOE awards include a $1.3 billion commitment in three interregional transmission lines crossing six states, which could add up to 3.5 GW of additional transmission grid capacity throughout the U.S. and create more than 8,000 local jobs. Two of the projects awarded TFP funds will be developed by ACEG supporters: Grid United is developing the 175-mile Southline project from New Mexico to Arizona, and Berkshire Hathaway Energy is part of TransCanyon LLC, which is developing the 214-mile Cross-Tie project, from Utah to Nevada. ACEG supports these innovative public-private efforts to build a stronger grid.
DOE also released its final National Transmission Needs Study, which serves as a robust assessment of current and near-term future transmission needs through 2040. The study shows that there is a significant need for new interregional transmission between nearly all U.S. regions in the next two decades. ACEG Executive Director Christina Hayes issued the following statement:
“ACEG applauds DOE’s investment in a resilient and reliable energy grid through the TFP awards. Today’s announcement is a valuable step towards building the expanded and modernized transmission system America needs, which will lower consumer costs, prevent dangerous power outages, and create good-paying jobs. With so many transmission projects across the country ready to break ground, it’s encouraging to see lines that have been in the works for years receive funding through TFP which will help them move forward. ACEG is eager to support these awarded projects as they move closer to energization.
“Furthermore, DOE’s National Transmission Needs Study emphasizes what we already know —that nearly all U.S. regions would gain improved reliability and resilience from additional transmission investments. States and regional authorities must incorporate these findings into their planning and infrastructure expansion programs, in order to meet America’s present and future energy needs.”
###
About Americans for a Clean Energy Grid:
Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG) is a non-profit, broad-based public interest advocacy coalition focused on the need to expand, integrate, and modernize the North American high-capacity grid. ACEG brings together a diverse coalition — including business, labor, consumer, environmental groups, and other transmission supporters — to advocate for policies that recognize the benefits of a robust transmission grid.
Media Contact:
Chloe Slayter, Communications Manager
chloe.slayter@cleanenergygrid.org | 805-556-5344
Related Content
