Recent Announcements
Biden-Harris Administration Invests More than $324 Million in States and Tribal Nations to Modernize America’s Electric Grid
As of July 6, 2023, the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) has released more than $324 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 DOE’s Grid Deployment Office (GDO), the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants will help modernize the electric grid to reduce impacts due to extreme weather and natural disaster and ensure the reliability of the power sector’s infrastructure, so all communities have access to affordable, reliable, clean electricity anytime, anywhere. Award recipients for the first two fiscal years of funding are being announced on a rolling basis.
 Meet the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants awardees.
GDO Extends Comment Deadline for National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor Request for Information
On June 22, 2023, GDO extended the response deadline for the Request for Information (RFI) to inform the designation of National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETCs) to July 31, 2023.
NIETCs are geographic areas where electricity limitations, congestion, or capacity constraints are adversely affecting electricity consumers and communities. Designation of a NIETC unlocks critical federal investment and regulatory and permitting tools to spur urgent transmission investments needed in these geographic areas to improve reliability and resilience and reduce consumer costs. The RFI seeks stakeholder feedback to improve the NIETC designation process to more accurately pinpoint areas experiencing the greatest transmission need and with the greatest potential for immediate transmission deployment.
All comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on July 31, 2023.
Read more about the NIETC designation process.
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Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Requirements Updated to Accept Tribal Consortium Applications
On June 22, 2023, GDO released an amendment to the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants program that will better enable Indian Tribes to take advantage of the available funding. In response to feedback from Tribes, this amendment allows a group of Tribes to collaborate and form a consortium to apply for grid resilience grants. Applying as a Tribal Consortium will allow resource-constrained Tribes to pool efforts to meet grant requirements, such as managing funds and selecting grid resilience projects.
The application deadline for Fiscal Year (FY) 22 and FY23 grants has been extended for Indian Tribes, including Alaska Native Corporations, until August 31, 2023, at 11:59 pm ET (with a mail-in option post-marked by this date). GDO will assist Tribes in modifying a submitted application if they wish to join a Tribal consortium.
Learn more about the amendment to the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant program.
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GDO Modifies Applications Guidance for the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives
On June 13, 2023, GDO released modifications to the application guidance for the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives (EPAct 2005 Section 247). Most notably, GDO clarified the timeline for the start and completion of projects to state that they should be started and completed within three years after being selected for an incentive payment.
The window for Letters of Intent (LOI) closed on June 22, 2023. To be eligible to file a full application, prospective applicants must have first filed a LOI by the due date. Full applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. ET on October 6, 2023. A webinar will be held on July 12, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. ET to provide an overview on the Community Benefits Plan requirements in the application guidance. Registration is required.
Learn more about the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives.
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News and Updates
President Biden Highlights GDO’s Work to Build Community Climate Resilience
On June 19, 2023, President Biden delivered remarks on the climate crisis at Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center in Palo Alto, California. When talking about his Investing in America agenda and federal climate investments, President Biden highlighted GDO’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants and how they will help modernize the electric grid and reduce the likelihood and consequences of electrical outages due to wildfires, extreme weather, and other natural disasters that are exacerbated by the climate crisis. Additionally, the White House released a fact sheet to provide further information on the Biden-Harris Administration’s investments to build community climate resilience.
Read President Biden’s full remarks.
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The U.S. Senate Confirms First-Ever Under Secretary for Infrastructure
On June 14, 2023, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm swore in David Crane to be the Department’s first Under Secretary for Infrastructure. Crane was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 7, 2023, with a bipartisan vote of 56 to 43.
David Crane is a leading business voice in the field of sustainability, clean energy, and climate change. Prior to his confirmation as Under Secretary for Infrastructure he served as Director of DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations. Outside of government, Crane was the CEO of Climate Real Impact Solutions and served on the Boards of Heliogen Inc, Source Global, JERA Co. Inc., and Tata Steel Ltd, along with the not-for-profit Boards of Elemental Excelerator and The Climate Group NA. He was also a part of The B Team, serving as a leader and chairing the organization’s Net Zero Initiative.
Read U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm’s statement.
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The New York Times: “Why the U.S. Electric Grid Isn’t Ready for the Energy Transition”
On June 12, 2023, the New York Times published an interactive news feature on the U.S. electric grid and what it will take to build a successful transmission and distribution network that can realize the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals of reaching 100% clean electricity by 2035 and net zero emissions by 2050.
Informed by key findings of the draft National Transmission Needs Study report, the article emphasizes the pressing need for additional transmission infrastructure, particularly interregional transmission. The Needs Study is the Department of Energy’s triennial state of the grid report.
Formally known as the National Electric Transmission Congestion Study, the Needs Study identifies high impact needs and provides information about current and anticipated future capacity constraints and congestion on the nation’s electric transmission grid. GDO anticipates publishing a final Needs Study in Fall 2023.
 Source: The New York Times | The map is based on the "All Options" part from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's 100% Clean Electricity by 2035 Study.
View the full story.
GDO Previews Recommended Offshore Wind Transmission Development Along the Atlantic Coast
In June 2023, GDO unveiled an interactive map of recommended offshore wind transmission development informed by the joint agency convening effort and the preliminary results from the Atlantic Offshore Wind Transmission Study (AOSWTS).
Led by the Wind Energy Technologies Office at DOE and conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the AOSWTS will evaluate multiple pathways to OSW goals through coordinated transmission solutions along the Atlantic Coast in the near-term (2030) and long-term (2050), under various generation mix and load futures. GDO anticipates publishing an action plan for offshore wind transmission development in the U.S. Atlantic region later this year.
 Check out the interactive map.
The Grid Deployment Office is Hiring!
This week, GDO onboarded its 100th employee! Our office continues to actively recruit for a variety of positions based in Washington, D.C., as well as remote and hybrid positions.
Potential positions include:
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Environmental experts at multiple levels (GS 9 through GS 15) to support our Grid Infrastructure, Permitting, and Technical Assistance and Federal Permitting Coordination To learn more about the qualifications for these positions, review the LinkedIn post.
- If this sounds like you (or someone you know), apply now via the Department’s Clean Energy Corps and use the referral code “#GDOTPM”.
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Market experts at multiple levels (GS 9 through GS 14) to support our Wholesale Markets and Hydropower Incentives To learn more about the qualifications for these positions, review the LinkedIn post.
- If this sounds like you (or someone you know), apply now via the Department’s Clean Energy Corps and use the referral code “#GDOGCD”.
To learn more about these positions or to let us know you have applied, contact GDORecruit@hq.doe.gov with the referral code in the subject line.
Visit our career page to learn more about the application process.
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Subscribe to the GDO Newsletter!
To learn more about the latest milestones, funding opportunities, webinars, and highlights from our teams, make sure you opt-in to receive program specific updates.
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
Subscribe to receive news and updates.
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Grid and Transmission Program Conductor
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Do you know which transmission and grid resilience financing program is right for your project? With more options now for financing and investment through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, as well as other existing DOE transmission and grid programs, the Grid and Transmission Program Conductor’s interactive tool can help identify which opportunities may be best suited to bring your project to fruition.
Check out the Grid and Transmission Program Conductor.
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