The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $1.5 billion investment to enhance the nation’s transmission infrastructure. This funding, backed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support four key transmission projects aimed at boosting grid reliability and resilience, easing transmission congestion, and providing affordable energy access. These projects, spanning nearly 1,000 miles and will be adding 7,100 MW of new capacity across Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma.
Additionally, DOE released the final National Transmission Planning Study, which outlines long-term strategies to ensure grid reliability and resilience through 2050. The study emphasises the need to double or triple the 2020 transmission capacity to meet future demand, potentially saving billions through expanded transmission and interregional planning.
Earlier this year, Department of Energy finalised a $72.8 million loan guarantee to develop a solar-plus-storage microgrid on the Viejas Tribe’s reservation near Alpine, California. The project, backed by the California Energy Commission, US Bancorp Impact Finance, and Starbucks, will feature a 15 MW solar system and a 70 MWh long-duration battery.
