Energy Department awards nearly $1.9 billion for grid projects

The U.S. Department of Energy announced nearly $1.9 billion in federal grants for 31 electricity-grid projects across 26 states, with recipients expected to contribute another $3.35 billion. The department estimates the projects could add more than 23 gigawatts of capacity, enhance over 1,500 miles of transmission lines and install grid technologies across nearly 21,000 miles. The upgrades are intended to move more electricity through existing infrastructure as demand rises. The department says they could improve reliability and lower electricity costs for about 100 million Americans. Those benefits, along with the additional capacity, are projections; the sources report no completed-project results. The funded work includes transmission-line component upgrades and technologies such as sensors that measure real-time weather conditions. Those tools can help operators assess how much power lines can safely carry and redirect electricity away from congested routes, according to the department. The projects were prioritized for their ability to be put into operation quickly, officials said.