Jessica King, jessica.king@sierraclub.org
Megan Wittman, megan.wittman@sierraclub.org
Washington, D.C. – In the largest direct investment in critical grid infrastructure in U.S. history, last week the Department of Energy announced $3.46 billion for 58 projects to strengthen electric grid reliability and resilience across 44 states.
Part of the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program created by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the projects are designed to improve energy reliability and resilience in the face of extreme weather and ensure communities across the country receive clean, affordable energy.
This investment will bring over 35 gigawatts of clean energy online, support 400 microgrids, and bring good-paying union jobs to communities through partnerships with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Many of these projects will help to reduce outages in disadvantaged communities, create community hubs resilient in the face of grid emergencies like wildfires and winter storms, and provide for tribal ownership of transmission facilities that enable clean energy development on tribal lands and increase revenues.
“Robust investment in grid infrastructure is a key part of achieving U.S. climate and clean energy goals, and we’re pleased to see the Biden Administration acting to ensure Americans will have clean, affordable, and reliable energy for decades to come,” said Casey Roberts, Sierra Club Senior Attorney. “These projects will help deliver reliable and resilient power to communities across the country while advancing the president’s Justice40 initiative.”
One project funded by the GRIP Program includes coordinating the planning, design, and construction of five transmission projects across seven states in the Midwest. The $464 million project will help optimize regional transmission solutions. The Minnesota state government will spend an additional $1.3 billion for its share of the project’s costs.
“This is great news that will pave the way for how states get their energy,” said Laurie Williams, Sierra Club Senior Attorney. “We applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for this historic investment in our country’s electrical grid. In tandem with the Minnesota Department of Commerce's leadership, these projects will reduce costs for ratepayers, increase reliability during extreme weather, and help the Midwest transition off of fossil fuels. Smarter grid planning and more long-distance transmission is essential for the clean energy transition, and we are excited by this important step.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.