As a first step in the development of this programme, DOE is requesting information from stakeholders regarding issues related to the provision of grants.

Last week, the Grid Deployment Office launched the Transmission Siting and Economic Development Grants programme, a US$760 million investment through the Inflation Reduction Act to support states and local communities in the siting and permitting of interstate and offshore electricity transmission lines. As a first step in the development of this programme, DOE is requesting information from stakeholders regarding issues related to the provision of grants to facilitate the siting of interstate and offshore electricity transmission lines, including possible tools and resources that may reduce the time for siting authorities to reach decisions, and opportunities to increase community engagement and reduce conflicts that can stall siting processes.

“To ensure we build a more reliable, affordable, and clean energy grid, estimates show that the United States needs to expand our transmission systems by 60 per cent by 2030 and may need to triple it by 2050. States, siting authorities, and communities will face many challenges in siting and permitting the rapid expansion of the transmission system across the country. The Inflation Reduction Act provides US$760 million in grants to support states and other siting authorities in conducting siting and permitting activities and assist communities impacted by certain transmission projects,” said Director, Grid Deployment Office, Maria Robinson,. “Today, we are requesting feedback from the public on the development of the Transmission Siting and Economic Development (TSED) Grants programme. We know that engaging collaboratively with states and communities is essential to the successful development of transmission and we look forward to hearing feedback from them, as well as other interested stakeholders, on how we can best deploy this new grant authority.”

Part of the Building a Better Grid Initiative, the Transmission Siting and Economic Development Grants programme provides DOE with authority to issue grants to siting authorities to facilitate their processing of requests to permit and site certain high-voltage interstate or offshore electricity transmission lines. Grants may also be available to siting authorities or other State, local, or Tribal governmental entities for economic development activities in communities that may be affected by the construction and operation of a covered transmission project.

DOE is particularly interested in understanding how the Transmission Siting and Economic Development Grants programme can:

Identify, develop, and deploy resources and tools that improve the efficiency of siting and permitting proceedings, helping to reduce the time it takes to reach decisions on proposed electric transmission projects.

Increase community and stakeholder engagement in siting and permitting processes, create quality jobs and ensure workforce continuity, address local community needs and impacts, and reduce conflicts that can stall the development of needed electric transmission infrastructure.

Identify and prioritize economic development projects in communities that may be affected by the construction and operation of covered transmission projects, including disadvantaged, underserved, and frontline communities.

Identify opportunities, strategies, and approaches to advance environmental justice and equity in disadvantaged communities impacted by siting of transmission projects and to increase the resilience of power delivery.

Information collected from this RFI will be used for programme planning purposes and in the development of a potential Funding Opportunity Announcement.

A public webinar will be held at 1:00 p.m. EST on January 25, 2023, to provide additional information. Registration is required.

Responses to this Request for Information should be sent to GDOIRASection50152@hq.doe.gov no later than 5pm EST on February 28, 2023, and include “RFI for Transmission Siting Grants” in the subject line of the email.