U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Georgia) announced funding through the bipartisan infrastructure law to strengthen Georgia’s energy security and independence.
Wednesday, Ossoff announced a $250 million investment through the bipartisan infrastructure law to strengthen Georgia’s energy grid and ensure Georgia families, small businesses, and the agricultural industry have access to reliable and affordable electricity.
The funding, coming through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership’s (GRIP) program, will help fund projects statewide — including in rural and underserved communities — to improve service reliability, decrease the frequency and duration of power outages, and reduce energy bills for families.
“Today we’re delivering a historic investment through the bipartisan infrastructure law to strengthen Georgia’s energy security and energy independence,” Ossoff said Wednesday. “I thank President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Secretary Granholm for their continued collaboration as we lead Georgia forward.”
The proposed projects will improve grid resilience and energy development in Georgia and generate more than 140 jobs, with a total estimated investment of approximately $507 million, of which $250 million is coming from the Federal bipartisan infrastructure law.
The project — through a partnership between the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) and Oglethorpe Power, Georgia Transmission, Georgia System Operations and Green Power EMC — will make a comprehensive smart grid infrastructure update, through investments in battery storage, local microgrids, and grid reliability, as well as new transmission lines.
Oglethorpe Power, Georgia Transmission, and Georgia System Operations serve 38 not-for-profit electric membership corporations (EMCs) across Georgia who provide retail electric service to more than 4.4 million residents.
“Extreme weather events fueled by climate change will continue to strain the nation’s aging transmission systems, but President Biden’s Investing in America agenda will ensure America’s power grid can provide reliable, affordable power,” U.S Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said Wednesday. “Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever direct investment in critical grid infrastructure, supporting projects that will harden systems, improve energy reliability and affordability — all while generating union jobs for highly skilled workers.”
Oglethorpe Power proposed three 25-megawatt utility-scale batteries in this grant application, subject to customary approvals, according to Oglethorpe Power President & CEO Mike Smith.
“As we navigate the clean energy transition while simultaneously responding to increased electricity demands, we expect this energy storage project to enhance grid resiliency and enable the deployment of increased intermittent emission-free energy on Georgia’s electric grid,” he said.
Source : henyherald
