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President Biden introduced the GRIP program in 2023, aiming to distribute up to $10.5 billion in funding over a five-year period. By late 2024, around $7.4 billion in awards had been announced according to the Department of Energy (DOE).
The DOE has not yet provided updates on the status of these awards. They mentioned that the program’s new name aligns with its mission, focusing on swift advancements in reconductoring and other advanced transmission technologies (ATTs).
Julia Selker, the executive director of the WATT Coalition, highlighted that ATTs can lead to substantial savings for electric utilities and this funding will support their efforts in modernizing transmission grids. Addressing affordability has become a pressing matter for policymakers, with the U.S. Energy Information Administration predicting a rise in the average residential electricity price to 18 cents per kilowatt hour by 2026—a steep increase from 2020.
Simultaneously, utilities are gearing up for a significant expansion of the grid to accommodate increasing demand from sources like data centers. Larry Gasteiger, director of WIRES, emphasized that new transmission infrastructure must be developed to meet these needs, stating that merely optimizing existing grids isn’t sufficient.
The DOE’s SPARK funding encompasses three areas for different electric sector stakeholders. Grid operators, generators, and utilities can seek up to $427 million for enhancing grid resilience in FY 2026. Additionally, state and local governments, non-profits, and educational institutions can apply for up to $614 million for smart grid initiatives, while various governmental entities can request up to $862 million for innovative grid projects.
Dylan Reed, Managing Director of Advanced Energy United, expressed that investing in advanced transmission technologies is crucial for the modern grid. He welcomed federal support and urged swift action from the DOE to allocate these funds, enabling industry leaders to better prepare the grid for future electricity demands.