The U.S. Department of Energy reported funds from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill will help improve the nation's energy grid.
The agency issued a request for information seeking public input on how to use approximately $2.3 billion on grants that will "strengthen and modernize America’s power grid against wildfires, extreme weather and other natural disasters exacerbated by the climate crisis," according to an April 27 news release. Comments should be received by May 27.
“There is no question that a modernized grid is the linchpin to President Biden’s goal of a nation powered by reliable, renewable clean energy," U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm said, according to the release. “The President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grid investments will help provide the American people with resilient electricity generation regardless of a lightning strike or an extreme weather event.”
Power outages caused by severe weather have doubled in the last 20 years, the agency said.
"Length of power failures reached their highest levels since reliability tracking began in 2013 — with U.S. customers on average experiencing more than eight hours of outages in 2020," the release reported.
Power-grid modernization could include "utility pole upkeep; removal of trees and other vegetation affecting grid performance; undergrounding electrical equipment; relocating or reconductoring powerlines; improvements to make the grid resistant to extreme weather; increasing fire resistant components; implementing monitoring, controls and advanced modeling for real-time situational awareness; and integrating distributed energy resources like microgrids and energy storage," the news release said.
The funding is part of Building a Better Grid Initiative established as part of the infrastructure law, the release said.
