The US Department of Energy (DOE) announces $1.5B for four transmission projects – including connecting the Texas grid to the Southeast grids for the first time ever.
The projects, spanning multiple states, will add nearly 1,000 miles of new transmission lines and increase grid capacity by 7,100 megawatts (MW). They’ll boost grid reliability, lower energy costs, and support the clean energy transition.
The projects will improve transmission congestion and resilience, especially as the country faces more extreme weather events. By improving connections between regions and making it easier to access renewable energy sources like wind and solar, these projects will make energy more reliable and cost-effective. They’ll also generate nearly 9,000 jobs, supporting local economies in Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
In addition to the transmission projects, the DOE released its National Transmission Planning Study, which outlines a long-term vision for meeting future energy needs through 2050. The study highlights the need to double or triple transmission capacity from 2020 levels to ensure reliability and resilience as the energy landscape shifts toward renewables. Here’s a breakdown of the four projects:
- Aroostook Renewable Project (Maine): This 111-mile transmission line with a capacity of 1,200 MW will connect a new substation in Haynesville, Maine, to the larger New England grid, providing access to clean energy from northern Maine. It’s expected to create over 4,200 construction jobs and 30 permanent jobs.
- Cimarron Link (Oklahoma): A 400-mile HVDC line will run from Texas County to Tulsa, moving 1,900 MW of clean wind and solar power to growing load centers in eastern Oklahoma and elsewhere in the Southwest Power Pool. This project will create 3,600 construction jobs and 20 permanent roles.
- Southern Spirit (Texas to Mississippi): This is a REALLY. BIG. DEAL. Spanning 320 miles, this HVDC line will link Texas’ isolated ERCOT grid with the Southeast grids for the first time, adding 3,000 MW of bidirectional capacity across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. It’s designed to prevent outages like the ones during Winter Storm Uri that hit Texas hard in 2021. It’s expected to create 850 construction jobs and 305 permanent jobs.
- Southline (New Mexico): A 108-mile transmission line will provide 1,000 MW of new bidirectional capacity between Hidalgo County and Las Cruces. It will help meet energy needs of industries investing in the region, including semiconductor, battery manufacturing, and data center facilities. The project will create at least 150 construction jobs.
US Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk said, “DOE’s approach to deploying near-term solutions and developing long-term planning tools will ensure our electric grid is more interconnected and resilient than ever before, while also supporting greater electricity demand.”
Clarification: The Texas grid is indeed isolated, as stated, but it’s not 100% isolated – it’s more than 99% isolated.
Read more: How EVs were a lifeline for 3 families (and 6 cats) during the Texas blackout
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