Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and 15 local power companies have joined forces to secure $350 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program. The aim is to fund 141 energy security projects that will ensure access to reliable, affordable, and clean electricity for local communities.
If successful, the grants will facilitate the construction of an inter-regional 800-megawatt transmission line to bring wind power to the region, increase grid capacity by approximately 5,500 megawatts, and unlock over 6 gigawatts of solar energy in TVA’s interconnection queue. This initiative will support economic growth and expand clean energy across seven states.
Cindy Herron, TVA’s Federal Funding vice president, stated, “With the sustained growth we’re seeing across the region, we developed this coalition to leverage this historic funding opportunity to add transmission and distribution capacity for the 10 million people in the Valley. If awarded, these DOE grants will help meet our region’s growth challenges by funding innovative solutions that will deliver vast amounts of affordable, clean energy and a sustained, competitive advantage to communities we support.”
The region’s population is projected to grow by 22% by 2050, with TVA already working on building over 3,800 megawatts of additional generation through solar, energy storage, combustion turbines, and combined-cycle natural gas. TVA is making progress, with 1,400 completed megawatts and securing about 800 new megawatts of solar energy. They aim to have 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2035 and to be net-zero by 2050.
The projects funded by the grants will enhance the quality of life in nearly 600 disadvantaged communities in the region, create about 800 jobs, invest $760 million in disadvantaged communities supporting schools, hospitals, public safety organizations, and emergency shelters, directly improve the lives of over 2.5 million customers, reduce power bills, increase access to renewable energy for 10 million consumers, strengthen the power grid, and mitigate risks from extreme weather events.
The Department of Energy is administering $10.5 billion in GRIP grants to enhance grid flexibility and improve resilience of the power system against the growing threats of extreme weather and climate change. The projects by TVA and local power companies will support state, regional, and national efforts to transition to a cleaner and more reliable grid affordably and equitably.
TVA is confident in their ability to do more with nearly 60% carbon-free generation, should they be awarded the GRIP funding. Herron mentioned, “TVA is the clean energy model for the nation, and we will continue to partner to build a better future for everyone we serve.”
Key figures such as Mayor Corey Glenn, Dr. Tyler Forrest, Graig Davis, Jerry Holt, Caroline Chinouth, Kathy Motsinger-Eller, William Sugg Jr., and Dr. Lance Evens have expressed their support for the GRIP grant and highlighted the positive impacts on disadvantaged communities, modernization of the electrical grid, improvements in service reliability, and opportunities for education on energy conservation and environmental stewardship.
The collective efforts of TVA and local power companies reflect a commitment to advancing clean energy solutions, enhancing community resilience, and ensuring a sustainable future for all.
This article discusses how TVA and its partners are seeking $350 million in grant funding from the US Department of Energy to lower energy costs, strengthen the power grid, and increase clean energy sources. The funding would help improve the overall efficiency and reliability of the power grid, as well as support the transition to more sustainable energy sources.