ICYMI: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Largest-Ever Investment in Electric Grid Infrastructure

This week, during the Investing in America Tour, the Biden-Harris Administration announced $3.46 billion in funding to strengthen power grid resilience and reliability across America – the largest investment in electric grid infrastructure in our nation's history. Funded by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and through his Bidenomics agenda, 58 projects across 44 states will deliver affordable, clean electricity to communities in every corner of the country, ensuring access to a reliable power grid amid extreme weather worsened by climate change, lowering costs, and creating good-paying union jobs.

See excerpts of local coverage below:

Spectrum: Biden admin. announces $3.5B for projects to strengthen electric grid nationwide
[Maddie Gannon, 10/19/23]

The Biden administration on Wednesday announced it is investing $3.5 billion in 58 projects spanning 44 states to strengthen the nation's electric grid, with administration officials billing it as "the largest investment in electric grid infrastructure in our country's history… The funding comes from the $10.5 billion allocated in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships Program, or GRIP. Granholm said coupling the administration's investment with money promised by private partners, the announcement will create an $8 billion investment in total.

KXAS (NBC Dallas-Fort Worth): Biden administration to invest $3.5 billion to improve the resiliency of the electric grid
[Catherine Clifford, 10/18/23]

The Biden Administration is putting almost $3.5 billion into improving the strength and resiliency of the United States' electric grid, government officials said on Wednesday. The money is coming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which President Joe Biden signed in November 2021, and Wednesday's announcement marks the first round of funding out of $10.5 billion that was allocated as part of the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program to improve the nation's electric grid. The $3.46 billion announced Wednesday will go to 58 projects across 44 states, including some 400 microgrids across the country, the Department of Energy said.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Georgia statewide): Georgia awarded $249 million grant to boost electric grid resilience
[Drew Kann, 10/18/23]

A coalition of Georgia electricity producers and distributors will receive a $249 million federal grant to add transmission lines, battery storage and build resilience to power outages, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm announced on Wednesday during a visit to the state. The federal Department of Energy (DOE) awarded grants to 58 projects in 44 states on Wednesday, and the one heading to Georgia is the third-largest of the bunch. The money comes from a $3.5 billion pot of funding included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Joe Biden in 2021, which the agency said is the single-largest investment ever made in modernizing the nation's power grid.

Kaua'i Now (Hawaii statewide): State energy office, KIUC receive federal support for innovative technology development projects
[Staff, 10/19/23]

Two technology demonstration projects proposed by the Hawai'i State Energy Office in partnership with Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative will receive more than $17.9 million in funding through the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships Program. "Kaua'i is proving that transitioning to locally produced renewable energy alleviates the energy burden for families and businesses by reducing extreme price volatility," said Governor Josh Green. "We are grateful to the Biden Administration for supporting these projects, which we believe will showcase how these technologies can achieve similar benefits on other islands."

San Antonio Express News (Texas statewide): CPS Energy gets cut of $3.5B for grid resiliency projects nationwide
[Sara DiNatale, 10/18/23]

CPS Energy is slated to receive a $30 million federal grant to grow its power supply as part of $3.5 billion for 58 total projects awarded by the Biden administration Wednesday to strengthen grid resilience nationwide as deadly weather and wildfires continue to strain aging transmission systems.

Greater Baton Rouge Business Report (Louisiana statewide): Louisiana is getting $249M for electric grid upgrades

The Biden administration on Wednesday announced $3.5 billion for 58 projects across the country to strengthen electric grid resilience as extreme weather events continue to strain the nation's aging transmission systems. Louisiana and Georgia will get $249 million each for rural areas. In Louisiana, two projects will focus on helping disadvantaged communities withstand extreme weather and develop microgrids to work with local utilities and back up existing assets. Entergy New Orleans also will enhance the local grid's resilience to severe weather, including hardening existing transmission lines and distribution systems to reduce outage frequency and duration.

Minnesota Public Radio: Feds announce major investments in Minnesota's electric grid
[Dan Kraker, 10/18/23]

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $150 million in grants to Xcel Energy and Minnesota Power to bolster the resiliency of the state's electric grid and help it adapt to a future where much more electricity will be generated from far-flung renewable sources such as wind and solar. The grants are part of nearly $3.5 billion in federal investments across 44 states designed to strengthen electric grid resilience and reliability, funded by the infrastructure law passed in 2021. The Biden administration says it's the largest ever investment in the country's electric grid.

The Advocate (Louisiana statewide): Louisiana, Entergy New Orleans land big federal grants for electric grid
[Sam Karlin, 10/18/23]

Louisiana has landed more than $300 million in federal grant money to harden its electric grid in New Orleans and set up "resilience hubs" around the state where residents can access electricity during disasters or extended outages. The U.S. Department of Energy announced the awards Wednesday as part of $3.5 billion effort to fund 58 projects across 44 states. The grants are aimed at strengthening the country's electric grid in the face of climate change, which is causing more severe weather events like hurricanes and wildfires.

Maine Public Radio: CMP gets $30 million federal grant to improve Maine's electric grid
[Murray Carpenter, 10/18/23]

The Department of Energy has awarded Central Maine Power a $30 million grant to improve the power grid and help reduce the frequency and impact of power outages. Made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the grant is part of a $3.5 billion package the Biden administration announced Wednesday for 58 projects in 44 states to strengthen electric grid resilience and reliability.

WJEK (FOX Detroit, MI): White House announces $3.5B for power grid upgrades across the US, including Michigan
[Hilary Golston and Nour Rahal, 10/18/23]

The U.S. power grid is getting a $3.5 million upgrade across 44 states, and Michigan is one of them. The funding is meant to strengthen the electric grid and protect it from extreme weather, President Joe Biden's administration announced Wednesday. The upgrades will also aim to deliver cheaper and cleaner energy.

Capital Beat (Georgia statewide): Georgia EMCs land federal grant for electric grid, clean energy projects
[Dave Williams, 10/18/23]

Georgia's electric membership corporations (EMCs) received a $250 million federal grant Wednesday for a series of grid improvement and clean energy projects. The award to Oglethorpe Power, Georgia Transmission, Georgia System Operations, and Green Power EMC will go toward an estimated investment of $507 million and is part of a $3.5 billion nationwide investment, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm announced Wednesday at a ceremony in Locust Grove. "Extreme weather events fueled by climate change will continue to strain the nation's aging transmission systems, but President Biden's Investing in America agenda will ensure America's power grid can provide reliable, affordable power," Granholm said.