Grid and Transmission Program Conductor Guide

Q: Where do I apply for funding?
All programs and their applications can be found on FedConnect after the funding round opens.

Q: Can I receive a grant/loan or participate in a public private partnership for multiple Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) provisions (40101, 40103(b), 40107) administered by GDO?
It is permitted for an entity to receive grants from multiple grid-related programs (IIJA Sections 40101, 40103(b), or 40107) if the entity is otherwise qualified. However, an eligible entity cannot submit an application for a grant under Section 40101(c) and a grant provided by a State or Tribe under Section 40101(d) during the same application cycle.

Q: Can I receive funding from a GRIP program AND apply for Transmission Facilitation Program?
Yes, that is permitted. Neither the GRIP program nor the Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP) preclude an eligible entity from receiving grants or other federal assistance (e.g., GRIP grant/assistance, TFP capacity contracts, public-private partnerships, or loans) from multiple programs if the entity is otherwise qualified.

Q: Can I apply and receive an award for TFP or a GRIP program AND the Transmission Facility Financing program in IRA (sec. 50151)?
No, an entity may not receive Transmission Facility Financing under IRA section 50151 if it is receiving grants or other Federal support, such as the TFP or a GRIP program.

Q: Can I receive a Loan Programs Office (LPO) loan AND participate in the GDO grant/financial assistance programs?
No, a project may not receive a loan from Loan Program Office under Title 17 and 1706 of the Energy Policy Act as enacted in IRA section 50144 if that project will also receive grants or other Federal support while the loan is outstanding, such as the TFP or a GRIP program.

Q: Is this the only round of funding available?
No, the grid modernization grants will run additional rounds of funding. The Transmission Facilitation Program will run additional rounds of funding until the $2.5 billion is fully distributed and the revolving fund is paid back. The Loan Program Office funds are being distributed on a rolling basis.

Q: Can States, Territories, or Tribes subgrant funding out to other entities?
Yes, for the programs that States, Territories, or Tribes are eligible, they may subgrant funding to other entities.

Q: Are public utilities in the Territories eligible for grant funding under the grid resilience provisions (40101, 40107, and through the states for 40103(b))?
Public utilities in the Territories are eligible for grant funding under all three grid resilience provisions mentioned.

Q: I’ve heard there is additional funding for transmission through the IRA. What can you tell me about that?

There are several transmission related provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) including:

• Section 50151 (Transmission Facility Financing)
  • Appropriates $2 billion to remain available until September 30, 2030, for a direct loan program for certain transmission project development.
  • To be eligible for a direct loan, a transmission project would need to be designated by the Secretary to be necessary in the national interest under section 216(a) of the Federal Power Act.
• Section 50152 [Transmission Siting and Economic Development (TSED) Grant Program]
  • Appropriates $760 million to remain available through September 30, 2029, for making grants aimed at facilitating the siting of certain onshore and offshore transmission lines.
  • This is a new program designed to help overcome permitting challenges that slow the deployment of critical transmission and provide tangible benefits to host communities across the country. 
• Section 50153 (Interregional and Offshore Wind Electricity Transmission Planning, Modeling, and Analysis)
  • Appropriates $100 million to remain available until September 30, 2031, for expenses for convening stakeholders and conducting analysis related to interregional transmission development and development of transmission for offshore wind energy.

Q: Can I apply for IIJA/IRA programs administered by DOE and participate in IIJA/IRA programs administered by other agencies (I.e., USDA IRA Loans & Grants, DOI IRA Tribal Electrification and Climate Resilience Grants, DOT IIJA EV Charging funding, EPA IRA Funding – Green Bank) simultaneously?

Applicants may pursue funding in multiple programs simultaneously if they are able to meet the eligibility requirements for each program. There may be exceptions. For instance, an eligible entity is not allowed to submit the same application for a grant under IIJA Section 40101(c) and Section 40101(d) in the same application cycle. DOE considers a "grant" to have a specific scope (i.e., a unique project). Accordingly, an eligible entity may not submit a grant application with the same scope under both Sections 40101(c) and 40101(d) in the same application cycle. Eligible entities can submit proposals to both Sections 40101(c) and 40101(d) in the same application cycle as long as they are separate scopes of work that address different resilience measures. In addition, federal funds may not be used to satisfy cost match or share requirements.

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding?
On October 3, 2024, GDO announced an investment of $1.5 billion in four transmission projects. The capacity contract selections join three projects selected through the first round of TFP.

Q. What are the next steps for TFP?

The program intends to open future funding opportunities when there are sufficient uncommitted funds available.

Q: If I have a transmission project that receives full cost recovery, am I eligible for TFP?
Prior to taking action to facilitate an eligible project, the Secretary of Energy must certify, among other issues, that the eligible project is unlikely to be constructed in as timely a manner or with as much transmission capacity in the absence of federal Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP) support, as set forth in 42 U.S.C. 18713 (i)(2). The best fit for this solicitation are projects that are nearly “shovel ready” and are in regions that rely on firm point-to-point transmission. TFP is designed for projects that would otherwise not be constructed without federal financial support. TFP capacity contracts will not include projects that are already fully subscribed or have a fully allocated source of revenue.

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding?
On October 25, 2024, GDO announced that 49 states, 5 territories, 254 Tribal Nations, and the District of Columbia have received a combined total of $473.6 million in fiscal year (FY) 2024 Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants. See the full list of awards.

Q. What are the next steps for 40101(d)? 
The U.S. Department of Energy expects to issue the FY25 Administrative and Legal Requirements Document (ALRD) in FY25 Q2.

Q: When will the grant cycle open for eligible entities to apply for funding through the states?
Each State or Tribe will determine its own process for distribution of funds by preparing a plan that will be adopted after notice and a public hearing and described in the Program Narrative, as described in Section 40101(d)(2)(B).

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding?
Through the second round of GRIP funding, Smart Grid Grants and Grid Resilience Utility and Industry Grants will support 38 projects across 42 states and the District of Columbia, totaling almost $2 billion in federal investment. See the full list of projects.

Q: Are tribal utilities considered tribes (15% cost share) or entities (50% cost share) under 40101?
A tribal utility is a separate and distinct entity from a Tribe and would be responsible for 100% cost share or 1/3 cost share if it is considered a "small utility."

Q: What are the next steps for the Grid Resilience Utility and Industry Grants?
DOE expects to launch a third round of GRIP funding in 2025.

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding?
Through the second round of GRIP funding, Smart Grid Grants and Grid Resilience Utility and Industry Grants will support 38 projects across 42 states and the District of Columbia, totaling almost $2 billion in federal investment. See the full list of projects.

Q: What are the next steps for the Smart Grid Grants?
DOE expects to launch a third round of GRIP funding in 2025.

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding?
On August 6, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $2.2 billion investment in the nation’s grid for eight projects across 18 states to protect against growing threats of extreme weather events, lower costs for communities, and catalyze additional grid capacity to meet load growth stemming from an increase in manufacturing and data centers.

The full list of projects is available online.

Q: What are the next steps for the Grid Innovation Program?
DOE expects to launch a third round of GRIP funding in 2025.

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding? 

On July 24, 2024, DOE selected 20 projects across 16 states to receive up to $371 million to accelerate the permitting of high-voltage, interstate transmission projects and support community infrastructure projects along major new and upgraded transmission lines. 

Q: What are the next steps for the Transmission Siting and Economic Development (TSED) Grant Program?

DOE expects to release the second TSED funding opportunity in early 2025.

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding?

The LPO loan process is outlined on LPO's Application Process page and the application period is ongoing. Additional resources and guidance are available on the Applicant Resources page.

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding?

The TIP application process is outlined on TIP's Project Development page. You may also reach out to WAPA directly at the email and phone number above.

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding? 

The Phase 2 submissions deadline for the ERC Prize will be in July 2024. The exact deadline date will be posted on the ERC’s webpage. Only Phase One winners of the ERC Prize are eligible to compete in ERC’s Phase Two.
 

For DE-FOA-0002970, the full application deadline closed on August 2, 2023.
 

For DE-FOA-0003045, the full application deadline is October 12, 2023. Only those applicants who submitted a pre-application and are invited to submit a full application are eligible to submit a full application.