America's energy infrastructure just took a major step forward in becoming more resilient, sustainable and safe. On Oct. 18, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced nearly $2 billion in funding for projects aimed at strengthening our power grid against extreme weather, lowering community energy costs and expanding capacity for growing demand from manufacturing, data centers and electrification. Funded through round two of the DOE's Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, these projects will add over 7.5 gigawatts of grid capacity, accelerate clean energy connections and support nearly 6,000 new, high-quality jobs. In total, they will drive more than $4.2 billion in public and private investment in America's clean energy future.

Latest GRIP Funding Recipients

The latest round of projects, announced on Oct. 18, will modernize over 950 miles of transmission infrastructure. This includes constructing more than 300 miles of new transmission lines and upgrading over 650 miles with reconductoring and grid-enhancing technologies to boost capacity. The full list of recipients and details on their projects can be found here. The DOE anticipates launching a third and final round of GRIP funding in early 2025.

About the GRIP Program

The DOE's GRIP Program is focused on bolstering the resilience and innovative capabilities of America's power grid. It aims to safeguard energy reliability and protect communities from natural disasters, cyber threats and other potential disruptions. The program fosters collaboration among industry stakeholders-including utilities, government agencies and states-to ensure a stable, resilient energy supply nationwide. A detailed overview of the GRIP Program and the three funding mechanisms within it is available in my previous blog, GRIP Funding Round Two: DOE's Latest Investment in Utility Resilience. Since its launch, the program has allocated approximately $7.6 billion across 104 projects. The latest round will add an estimated 13 gigawatts of grid capacity, facilitating greater access to clean energy for consumers across the country.

Achieve Your Federal Funding Goals with Itron

We are committed to equipping utilities with the tools and knowledge they need to modernize the grid, increase community safety and deliver reliable and resilient services. If your utility is interested in applying for federal funding now or in the future, Itron can provide comprehensive support, including:

• Strategic consulting and advisory on project development
• Insights on funding requirements and project selection criteria 
• Solution mapping and technical expertise tailored to utility needs
• Community impact analysis to enhance application
• Guidance on grant application messaging
• Compliance reporting alignment for post-funding requirements 

For further information on how Itron can support your utility's application for GRIP and other federal funding opportunities, please contact Dave Stensland, business development director, IIJA, or Liz Thompson, business growth manager. To stay updated on the latest federal funding opportunities, visit www.itron.com/iija and explore related blogs here.