A diverse coalition of more than 40 national and regional organizations and companies have requested robust funding for electric transmission deployment and research in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) FY 2025 budget.
The groups highlighted the potential of upgrading and expanding the nation’s transmission network in a joint letter to Congress. They also demonstrated the national security benefits of a modernized transmission system considering an increase in direct cyber and physical attacks on the grid.
“For the first time in two decades, demand for electricity is rising,” stated the groups. “Capacity exists to support this increasing demand and with the right investments can be brought online quickly.”
The groups urged Congress to consider specific funding requests for DOE’s Grid Deployment Office, Office of Electricity, and Loan Programs Office, along with additional borrowing authority for the Transmission Facilitation Program.
“The funding is critical to unleashing domestic clean energy resources, safeguarding against emerging threats, catalyzing billions in private capital investment, creating thousands of good-paying jobs, and delivering low-cost energy to families and businesses,” the groups wrote.
