The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)/National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is issuing, on behalf of the Grid Deployment Office (GDO), this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). Awards made under this FOA will be funded, in whole or in part, with funds appropriated by Section 50152 of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) – Grants to Facilitate the Siting of Interstate Electricity Transmission Lines.
The IRA makes the single largest investment in energy and climate in American history, putting the United States on a pathway to achieving the Administration’s clean energy and climate goals, including a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, while securing America’s position as a world leader in domestic clean energy manufacturing, creating quality jobs, investing in communities, and advancing environmental justice.
Under Section 50152(a), the IRA appropriated $760 million to make grants to siting authorities to carry out eligible activities that will facilitate the siting and permitting of “covered transmission projects” or to siting authorities and other governmental entities for economic development activities in communities that may be affected by the construction and operation of a “covered transmission project.” A “covered transmission project” is defined in Section 50152(e)(1) as a “high voltage interstate or offshore electricity transmission line” for which an entity has applied for, or informed a siting authority of an intent to apply for, regulatory approval, and that is proposed to be constructed and to operate:
These investments, particularly when combined with programs authorized and funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (otherwise known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), will support the timely construction of new or upgraded electric transmission facilities and facilitate the siting of transmission facilities, while doing so in a manner consistent with affected community priorities, including considerations of environmental and energy justice, equity, job quality, and Tribal cultural resources.