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GDO Newsletter | February 2024 |
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Recent Announcements
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $72 Million in Largest Single Investment to Support America's Hydropower Facilities
President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda Funds the Largest Single Investment in the Nation’s Waterpower Production, 46 Projects Across 19 States Funded to Increase Access to Affordable, Clean Electricity.
In support of the President Biden’s Investing in America agenda on February 2, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of 46 hydroelectric projects across 19 states to receive up to $71.5 million in incentive payments to increase the generation efficiency of the Nation’s existing hydropower fleet. The selected projects can be found in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
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DOE and FEMA Study Finds Puerto Rico Can Achieve 100% Renewable Energy Future By 2050
The PR100 Study Outlines Viable Pathways to Securing a Renewable, Resilient and Reliable Grid; To Maximize Impact DOE Sets Launch Date for Low-income Households to Apply for Subsidized Residential Solar and Battery Systems.
DOE and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released a summary report on February 7, 2024, for the Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy Study (PR100). The two-year study concludes that Puerto Rico can successfully meet its projected electricity needs with 100% renewable energy by 2050. PR100 outlines pathways to achieving clean energy success, including grid stabilization measures and the deployment of distributed energy resources.
To further assist Puerto Rico's energy resilience and clean energy goals, DOE announced that on February 22, 2024, residents can apply for DOE’s Programa Acceso Solar (Solar Access Program)—a program designed to connect up to 30,000 low-income households with residential rooftop solar and battery storage systems with zero upfront costs. This program is the consumer-facing application phase of the first round of funding from the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund, a $1 billion DOE program focused on improving the resilience of Puerto Rico’s electric grid with an emphasis on the region’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged households and communities. The Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to helping states and territories reach their clean power targets to move the nation closer to achieving President Biden’s 2050 goal of a net-zero carbon economy.
Biden-Harris Administration Requests Proposals to Expand and Modernize the Nation’s Electric Transmission
President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda Provides Another Round of Funding of up to $1.2 Billion to Expand Access to Affordable and Reliable Clean Energy.
In support of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a Request for Proposals (RFP) on February 6, 2024, for the second round of the Transmission Facilitation Program, a $2.5 billion revolving fund that helps overcome financial hurdles facing large-scale new and upgraded transmission lines. Through the RFP, DOE anticipates deploying up to $1.2 billion in federal support to accelerate transmission buildout through capacity contracts, an innovative approach that increases the confidence of investors and potential customers while reducing risk for projects. These federal investments will unlock billions of dollars of state and private sector capital to build transformative projects that increase the reliability of the power grid and modernize it so that more American communities and businesses have access to affordable, reliable, clean electricity—helping deliver on the President’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035.
In response to industry comments, the application and review process for the RFP is split into two parts to help better manage the administrative burden on applicants. The submission deadline for Part 1 of the application is March 11, 2024. A public webinar to provide additional information will be held at 3 p.m. Eastern time on February 21, 2024. Registration is required.
Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Award of $1.1 Billion in Credits to Pacific Gas and Electric’s Diablo Canyon Power Plant
DOE Supports the Continued Operations of Safe and Reliable Nuclear Energy Facilities, Preserving Thousands of Good-paying Clean Energy Jobs While Avoiding Carbon Emissions.
On January 17, 2024, DOE announced the signing of the credit award and payment agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company to finalize terms for $1.1 billion in credit payments via the Civil Nuclear Credit (CNC) Program for the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, located near Avila Beach, California.
Funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and administered by GDO, the $6 billion CNC program supports the continued operations of safe and reliable nuclear energy facilities, preserving thousands of good-paying clean energy jobs while avoiding an increase in carbon emissions. As the nation’s largest source of carbon-free power, America’s current fleet of nuclear reactors is a vital resource for achieving the President’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035 and a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces $562 Million for States and Tribes to Strengthen and Modernize America’s Power Grid
Allocation Request and Applications Now Being Accepted For Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Fiscal Year 2024 Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants.
On January 18, 2024, DOE released the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant fiscal year 2024 (FY24) Administrative and Legal Requirements Document (ALRD) to open the allocation request and application period for FY24 grant funding. Supported by the BIL and administered by GDO, these grants help modernize the electric grid to reduce the impacts of climate-driven extreme weather and natural disasters while also ensuring the reliability of the power sector.
As of January 2024, DOE has awarded a total of more than $772 million in FY22/23 grants to 52 participating states and territories and 103 tribal entities, to boost clean electricity, decrease energy costs, and keep the lights on for millions of Americans across the country. Now, an additional $562 million in funding is available through FY24 grants. Applicants have until April 17, 2024, to request FY24 grant funds.
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News and Updates
Secretary Granholm Visits Puerto Rico
On February 7 and 8, 2024, Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm visited Puerto Rico to announce the results of the Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy Study (PR100). She also announced the launch of DOE’s new Programa Acceso Solar, an initiative to connect 30,000 low-income families with residential solar and battery storage systems.
This program is the consumer-facing application phase of the first round of funding from the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund, a $1 billion DOE program focused on improving the resilience of Puerto Rico’s electric grid with an emphasis on the region’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged households and communities. As part of this launch, she met with households in San Juan and Jayuya that could benefit from the program.
West Coast Offshore Wind Transmission Convening Series Kickoff Meeting
On January 17, 2024, GDO and the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) hosted the West Coast Offshore Wind Transmission Convening Series kickoff meeting.
Throughout 2024, GDO and BOEM will host a series of Convening Workshops with subject matter experts and decision makers, including Tribal Nations, state governments, and regional transmission operators to gather input about West Coast offshore wind transmission planning needs and challenges.
Following the Convening Series, DOE and BOEM will develop a set of recommendations that outline immediate actions needed to connect the first generation of West Coast offshore wind projects onto the electric grid, and longer-term efforts to support needed transmission over the next several decades. These recommendations will be published as a region-specific addendum to the Atlantic Offshore Wind Transmission Action Plan. The kickoff webinar on January 17, 2024, previewed the goals and plan for the upcoming Convening Series.
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Image source: Joshua Bauer, NREL
DOE Launches Third Round of Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship Program
Fellows Will Gain Career Experience with Critical Regional, State, Utility, and Tribal Energy Organizations that are Decarbonizing the Electricity Sector and Enhancing Grid Resilience
On February 1, 2024, DOE launched the third round of the Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship, a unique workforce development program that matches recent graduates and energy professionals to key energy organizations that support efforts to advance clean energy solutions. Through this program, host institutions receive support to help them accelerate the transition to clean electricity and better take advantage of federal grid resilience and modernization funding opportunities, while also increasing access to clean-energy career opportunities across the United States.
Eligible Host Institutions include state public utility commissions, grid operators, and cooperative and municipal utilities, as well as Tribal Utilities, Inter-Tribal Councils or other Tribal organizations, and essential energy organizations in Puerto Rico. New this year, State Energy Offices are now considered priority Host Institutions.
Host Institution applications are due on March 5, 2024.
Materials Available: January 3 National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) Designation Process Final Guidance Informational Webinar
The initial window for public submission for information and recommendations on National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor Designation Process closed on February 2, 2024. The public will also have an opportunity to submit information in response to DOE’s preliminary list of potential NIETC designations, which it expects to release in Spring 2024. Learn more about the NIETC designation process by watching the January 3, 2023, webinar recording.
Fact Sheet Available: Tribal Nation Offshore Wind Transmission Technical Assistance Program
Administered by GDO, the Tribal Nation Offshore Wind Transmission Technical Assistance Program was developed to support the engagement of Tribal Nations in activities related to the planning and development of U.S. offshore wind transmission. This technical assistance program was created in direct response to Tribal input. It offers capacity building through educational resources, training, and on-call assistance from technical experts and researchers at the DOE’s national labs.
Understanding the fundamentals of offshore wind energy planning and development is key for Tribes to participate in related activities. Tribal members are encouraged to attend educational events and webinars, and webinar slides and recordings, virtual trainings, and GDO presentations at national tribal forums will be made available.
Source: Charlie Chesvick via Getty Images
Get to Know the Team at GDO: Nicholas Palso
Nicholas Palso (he/him) is a Senior Project Manager on GDO’s Hydroelectric Incentives Program team born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He oversees the Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentives, which are investing $75 million to enable implementation of capital improvements to hydropower facilities across the country to improve efficiency. The incentives are funded via the BIL to help maintain and enhance existing hydroelectric facilities to ensure generators continue to provide clean electricity, while improving dam safety and reducing environmental impacts.
He has a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, a Master of Public Administration from Villanova University, and Doctorate in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management from Penn State. He joined GDO in October 2022 after over 14 years at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, where he worked in hydropower licensing.
When not working, Nicholas enjoys camping, kayaking, hiking, splitting firewood, marmots, long road trips to the edges of civilization, and watching trains. He once walked back and forth across Death Valley because it seemed like a good idea at the time. It wasn’t.
Two Years of Building a Better Grid: What it Means for Communities
Celebrating the Second Anniversary of the Building a Better Grid Initiative.
On January 12, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) launched the Building a Better Grid Initiative to catalyze the nationwide development of new and upgraded transmission lines and support investments to expand and modernize the transmission system to create a more resilient and flexible electric grid. The initiative, enabled by President Biden’s BIL and Inflation Reduction Action (IRA), brings together state and Federal government agencies, industry, academia, communities, and tribal entities to identify national transmission needs and support the buildout of transmission systems.
Two years into this initiative, GDO is leveraging historic investments through a multi-faceted approach—using many tools in the toolbox—to improve and expand national transmission infrastructure. Check out a new blog to see what that looks like.
Catch Up on the Latest Blogs from GDO
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Specific programs include:
Topics include:
- Building a Better Grid Initiative and Transmission Planning
- Civil Nuclear Credits
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- Hydroelectric Incentives
- Information for States and Tribes
- National Transmission Planning Study
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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.
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Recent Meeting Materials
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.
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