Inflation Reduction Act - Grants to Facilitate the Siting of Interstate Electricity Transmission Lines and Economic Development

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 81.254

U.S. Department of Energy

Letter of Intent (Required): Oct 31, 2023
Application: Apr 5, 2024

For programmatic or technical questions:
FOA3101@netl.doe.gov

For questions about the online submission system:
InfrastructureExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov

The Inflation Reduction Act Transmission Siting and Economic Development Program will provide funding for siting and permitting authorities or other types of state, local, or tribal governmental entities to support a wide range of projects that provide benefits targeted to the needs of impacted communities.

Areas of interest:

• Interstate Electricity Transmission Siting and Permitting Area 1:
  • (A) Studies and analyses of the impacts of the covered transmission project
  • (B) Examination of up to 3 alternate siting corridors within which the covered transmission project feasibly could be sited
  • (C) Participation by the siting authority in regulatory proceedings or negotiations in another jurisdiction
  • (D) Participation in regulatory proceedings at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or a State regulatory commission
  • (E) Other measures and actions that may improve the chances of, and shorten the time required for, approval by the siting authority
• Economic Development Area 2:
  1. Sub-grant programs offered by eligible applicants to impacted communities and community-based organizations, soliciting community- proposed activities that will positively impact the local economy
  2. Local energy democratization and resilience projects, including but not limited to the development of microgrids, distributed generation, energy storage, or electric vehicle charging infrastructure
  3. Affordable and sustainable housing opportunities
  4. Co-location of broadband that will serve a local community or communities in the transmission corridor
  5. Development of community facilities including but not limited to facilities for the following uses: public safety services such as fire departments or police stations; healthcare services; utility services; education facilities; public facilities such as town halls, courthouses, community centers, airport hangars or street improvements
  6. Development or improvement of environmental resources, such as the establishment of green spaces, restoration of disturbed lands, or expansion of endangered species habitat
  7. Job training and apprenticeship programs
  8. Establishment of a low-income energy fund to provide bill relief or support energy optimization initiatives for income-eligible populations
  9. Other activities proposed by the applicant that will provide benefit to impacted communities

Economic development: Any non-federal siting authority, any state government entity including but not limited to state energy offices and state transmission authorities, or any local or tribal government entity

Siting and permitting: Any state, local, or tribal governmental entity with the authority to make a final determination regarding the siting, permitting, or regulatory status of a covered transmission project that is proposed to be located in an area under the jurisdiction of the entity

Nationwide

Economic development:

• Award ceiling: $50,000,000
• Award floor: $100,000
• Project period: 2-4 years
• Estimated number of awards: 4-40
• Estimated total program funding: $200,000,000

Siting and permitting:

• Award ceiling: $10,000,000
• Award floor: $100,000
• Project period: 2 years
• Estimated number of awards: 14-40
• Estimated total program funding: $100,000,000

Match/cost share requirements by areas of interest:

• 2 Economic Development - 5%
• 1A, 1B, 1E Siting and Permitting - 5%
• 1C, 1D Siting and Permitting - 50%

Links to the full announcement and online application process are available through grants.gov. The application instructions will be found on the related documents tab.

Access application forms and instructions available on the Clean Energy Infrastructure Funding Opportunity eXCHANGE. Enter DE-FOA-0003101 into the FOA Number field.

Submit a concept paper by October 31, 2023. Selected applicants will be encouraged to submit a full application, with a deadline of April 5, 2024.

Broadband · Capital funding · Community and economic development · Environmental health · Health workforce education and training · Healthcare facilities · Housing and homelessness · Human services · Infrastructure · Networking and collaboration · Public health · Transportation