ICYMI: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Historic Investment to Bolster Nation's Electric Grid, Cut Energy Costs, and Create Good-Paying Jobs

As a key pillar of Bidenomics, President Biden's Investing in America agenda is delivering the largest electric grid infrastructure investment in history – more than $30 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. As part of this unprecedented commitment, the Biden-Harris Administration announced this week a new $1.3 billion investment in three transmission lines that cross six states – Arizona, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah, and Vermont – to help deliver affordable, reliable power to households across the country, creating more than 13,000 direct and indirect high-quality local jobs.

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?CNN: Biden administration announces $1.3B for 3 new massive transmission lines to shuttle clean energy
[Ella Nilsen, 10/30/23]

The Biden administration is announcing it will spend $1.3 billion of new federal funding to help create three new, massive electrical transmission lines in the Southwest and New England, in an effort to improve the nation's power grid and get more renewable energy into America's homes and businesses. […] "I do think the approach to find existing right of ways or creative right of ways that are less disruptive is one that we are finding successful across the country," Zaidi told reporters, speaking about a Midwest transmission line being built across existing railroad infrastructure. "One of the things we're seeing with developers, and that we're eager to be a partner on, is finding low-conflict paths to connect low-cost energy to consumers who are excited to see that translated to lower bills."

Reuters: US commits $1.3 billion for power lines in West, Northeast
[Timothy Gardner, 10/30/23]

The Biden administration said on Monday it is committing up to $1.3 billion for three new power lines crossing six states in the U.S. West and Northeast, to help bolster the aging grid and bring renewable power to more customers.

CNBC: Biden announces $1.3 billion to build new power lines, upgrade aging electric grid
[Rebecca Picciotto, 10/30/23]

President Joe Biden announced Monday a $1.3 billion federal investment to build three new interstate power lines in an effort to upgrade the United States' outdated electric grid and transition it to clean energy.

Arizona Digital Free Press: Biden-Harris Administration announces $1.3B commitment to three transmission lines across 6 states
[Staff, 10/31/23]

The historic commitment, which is made possible by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, DOE officials tell the Arizona Digital Free Press, will advance transformative projects aimed at adding 3.5 gigawatts (GW) of additional grid capacity throughout the United States. The amount of power is equivalent to approximately 3 million homes, and creating more than 13,000 direct and indirect jobs, according to a press release.

Arizona Republic: Arizona will get some of a billion dollar federal energy grant. Here's why
[Sarah Lapidus, 10/30/23]

The U.S. Energy secretary on Monday announced Arizona is set to receive part of a $1.3 billion federal grant to boost the state's power systems in rural areas. Speaking at the Apache Generating Station in Cochise County, Secretary Jennifer Granholm said the federal dollars will go toward funding for three transmission projects across the country. Included in the trio an effort in rural southern Arizona seeking to harden infrastructure against threats from climate change, potentially bringing thousands of jobs to the area. The Arizona-based project includes the construction of a 175-mile transmission line from New Mexico to Pima County for the project's first phase. The second phase will extend the transmission line to El Paso, Texas for a total of 278 miles."It boils down to three fundamental goals: Getting more power to more people in more places," Granholm said. According to the Biden administration, the project is likely to help lower energy costs and enable wind and solar resources from New Mexico to reach Arizona communities.

The Concord Monitor: Feds back power line from Canada into Vermont, New Hampshire
[David Brooks, 10/30/23]

A 211-mile transmission line that would bring Canada hydropower into New Hampshire and also let New England send power north is one of three projects to get federal support, part of a $1.3 billion commitment designed to increase the nation's ability to move electricity around as needed. The proposed Twin States Clean Energy Link from National Grid, which would travel along an existing power corridor through the Concord area, was chosen along with two interstate transmission lines out West to enter into capacity contract negotiations with the Department of Energy. Under the contracts, DOE will commit to purchasing a percentage of the total capacity of the lines, making it easier to lure other investors.

New Hampshire Bulletin: Twin States Clean Energy Link gets backing from federal government
[Hadley Barndollar, 10/30/23]

A proposed 211-mile transmission project bringing Canadian hydropower through Vermont and New Hampshire has been selected as one of three projects nationwide to receive support from the U.S. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's Transmission Facilitation Program. According to National Grid, Twin States would deliver clean energy from Canada to New England to support the region's decarbonization goals and increase the supply of affordable clean energy. The line would be bi-directional, meaning it would enable clean energy producers in the region, such as offshore wind, to export excess capacity to Quebec during lower domestic demand. National Grid expects the project will lower costs for customers across New England, creating more than $8.3 billion in wholesale energy market cost savings over the first 12 years of operation alone, according to an independent market assessment.

Salt Lake Tribune: How a new power line will connect Utah and Nevada to expand clean energy potential
[Tim Fitzpatrick, 10/31/23]

The U.S. Department of Energy has committed to funding a 214-mile electrical transmission line connecting Utah and Nevada that can flow both ways, meaning it can bring power to Utah and deliver Utah power elsewhere as needed. DOE estimates during construction the project will stimulate $761 million in economic activity and lead to 4,100 jobs in the two states.

Vermont Digger: Biden Administration announces federal funding for major electric transmission line through Vermont, New Hampshire
[Sarah Mearhoff, 10/31/23]

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, construction of the transmission line is expected to begin in the second half of 2026. The aim of the project is to bolster the New England electric grid's capacity and reliability, and to decrease electric utility costs to customers in the region. New Englanders have borne some of the highest electric utility rates in the country over the past year. On Tuesday, the governor celebrated the news of the U.S. Department of Energy's investment, saying in a statement that the Twin States Clean Energy Link "represents a great opportunity for Vermont and the Northeast Kingdom."
"We look forward to working with our partners as it moves forward and evaluating the benefits to Vermont," Scott added.

WMUR (ABC Manchester, NH): Funding approved for mostly underground transmission line to bring clean energy from Canada
[Troy Lynch, 10/30/23]

Supporters said the project will directly benefit New Hampshire and Vermont, potentially saving customers billions of dollars.

Power Technology: US announces $1.3bn to update country's electricity networks
[Annabel Cossins-Smith, 11/01/23]

The US Government on Monday announced an investment of up to $1.3bn to build three huge transmission lines across six states. The projects aim to bring online 3.5GW of additional grid capacity throughout the country, the US Department of Energy (DoE) said in a press statement, as the Biden administration moves to expand renewables output.