On October 3, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy announced an investment of $1.5 billion in four transmission projects through the Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP), an innovative revolving fund program that helps overcome the financial hurdles facing transmission development, that will improve grid reliability and resilience, relieve costly transmission congestion, and open access to affordable energy to millions of Americans across the country.
TFP Capacity Contract Selections - First Round
GBT Northbound, LLC et al. submitted a notice to terminate the SWIP-N project capacity contract facilitation agreement with DOE effective June 30, 2026.
TransCanyon submitted a notice to terminate the Cross-Tie project capacity contract facilitation agreement with DOE effective November 4, 2025.
Southline is a proposed 175-mile, 748 MW transmission line from Hidalgo County, NM to Pima County, AZ. The project, which is the first phase of a longer line, will make smart use of existing transmission rights of way along parts of its route, upgrading aging transmission facilities that are the source of congestion and constraints in the region.
- Project: Southline Phase 1
- Applicant/Selectee: Southline Transmission, LLC
- Type of Financial Assistance: Capacity Contract
- Project size: 748 MW, 175 miles
- Planned project location: Arizona, New Mexico
- Award amount: Up to $477 million
Twin States Clean Energy Link withdrew from TFP contract negotiations in March 2024.
TFP Capacity Contract Selections - Second Round
The Aroostook project will construct a new substation in Haynesville, Maine and a 111-mile, 345 kV Alternating Current transmission line with a capacity of 1,200 MW to connect the new substation to the Independent System Operator-New England (ISO-NE) system at an existing substation in Pittsfield, Maine. The project will also include a new 38.5-mile, 345 kV overhead line to connect the Pittsfield substation to existing Coopers Mills substation in Windsor, Maine.
- Project: Aroostook
- Applicant/Selectee: Northern Maine Transmission Line, LLC
- Type of Financial Assistance: Capacity Contract
- Project size: 1,200 MW, 111 miles
- Planned project location: Maine
- Award amount: Up to $425 million
Southern Spirit Transmission will construct a new 320-mile, 525 kV High-Voltage Direct-Current (HVDC) line connecting the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid with electric grids in the Southeastern United States for the first time. The line will provide 3,000 MW of bidirectional capacity between Rusk County, Texas to Choctaw County, Mississippi.
Interconnecting Texas to the Southeast will expand access to diverse resources and improve grid resilience in high demand and extreme weather events, benefiting ratepayers in both regions.
- Project: Southern Spirit Transmission
- Applicant/Selectee: Southern Spirit Transmission, LLC
- Type of Financial Assistance: Capacity Contract
- Project size: 3,000 MW, 320 miles
- Planned project location: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi
- Award amount: Up to $360 million
Cimarron Link Transmission submitted a notice to terminate the Cimarron Link project capacity contract facilitation agreement with DOE effective January 8, 2026.
Southline will construct a new 108-mile, 345 kV High Voltage Alternating Current line that will deliver 1,000 MW of new, bidirectional capacity between Hidalgo County, New Mexico and Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Southline Phase 2 will add much-needed transmission capacity to support electricity delivery across the desert southwest region, which is grappling with extensive load growth and an increase in resource demand driven by residential, commercial, and industrial activity.
- Project: Southline Phase 2
- Applicant/Selectee: Southline Transmission, LLC
- Type of Financial Assistance: Capacity Contract
- Project size: 1,000 MW, 108 miles
- Planned project location: New Mexico
- Award amount: Up to $352 million