Enabled by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Building a Better Grid Initiative is working to catalyze the nationwide development of new and upgraded high-capacity electric transmission lines. In the last 30 days, DOE released a series of Requests for Information and more transmission planning details:
- Grid Resilience State & Tribal Formula Grant Program Request for Information
- Transmission Facilitation Program Request for Information
- Long Duration Energy Storage for Everyone, Everywhere Initiative Request for Information
- National Transmission Planning Study Technical Review Committee Meeting on May 20
Grid Resilience State & Tribal Formula Grant Program
On May 5, DOE held a webinar offering additional information about the Grid Resilience State/Tribal Formula Grant Program’s request for information (RFI). The RFI seeks feedback to inform DOE’s structuring of the formula grants, including the formula grant program Notice of Intent, draft application and award requirements, and draft award formula allocation.
Comments must be received by June 2, 11:59 pm ET and can be submitted by emailing 40101formulagrants@hq.doe.gov. Click here to learn more about this program, download the webinar’s PowerPoint presentation, and listen to the session’s recording.
Transmission Facilitation Program RFI
On May 10, DOE issued an RFI seeking public input on the structure of $2.5 billion Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP) that will help build out new interregional transmission lines across the country. Under the TFP, DOE is authorized to borrow up to $2.5 billion to assist in the construction of new and upgraded high-capacity transmission lines through three financing tools: loans from DOE; DOE participation in public-private partnerships; and capacity contracts with eligible projects in which DOE would serve as an “anchor customer.” These tools represent an innovative approach that can spur valuable new lines that otherwise would not get built.
Written comments and information are requested on or before June 13 and questions about the Notice of Intent can be sent to TransmissionFacilitation@hq.doe.gov. A public webinar with additional information was held on May 26. The recording will be available by June 10 to join the PowerPoint presentation, which is now available here.
Long Duration Energy Storage for Everyone, Everywhere Initiative RFI
On May 12, DOE issued an RFI seeking public input for the Long Duration Energy Storage for Everyone, Everywhere Initiative, a $505 million investment to validate grid-scale long-duration energy storage technologies and enhance the capabilities of customers and communities to integrate grid storage more effectively. The new initiative will advance energy storage systems toward widespread commercial deployment by lowering the costs and increasing the duration of energy storage resources.
The goal of the RFI is to solicit feedback from a wide range of stakeholders on DOE’s implementation strategy and eligibility requirements. Comments must be received by 5 pm ET on June 16, and can be submitted by emailing EnergyStorage41001RFI@ee.doe.gov.
National Transmission Planning Study Technical Review Committee Meeting on May 20
The initial National Transmission Planning Study’s Technical Review Committee meeting was held on May 20. One of the first steps in the Building a Better Grid Initiative, the National Transmission Planning Study will identify transmission that will: provide broad-scale benefits to electric customers; inform regional and interregional transmission planning processes; and identify interregional and national strategies to accelerate decarbonization while maintaining system reliability.
During the Technical Review Committee meeting, the National Laboratories shared project overviews and details on modeling activities. Slides and a recording of this meeting will be available soon. If you have any questions about this event, please email NTPStudy@hq.doe.gov.