Round two of the federal Transmission Siting and Economic Development (TSED) Grant Program is approaching. This fall, GPI is gearing up to support communities with their applications, building on our work with successful applicants in round one.
The Grid Deployment Office (GDO) of the US Department of Energy (DOE) announced project selections for the first round of TSED in July, awarding over $350 million to states and communities across the country. TSED supports key transmission projects by “accelerating siting and permitting while supporting economic development efforts in communities impacted by transmission construction and operation” (see our previous post describing the program details and the first-round winners).
GPI offers comprehensive support to TSED applicants, helping them navigate the complexities of the application process. Our services include identifying eligible projects, facilitating ideation, assembling project teams, providing templates, and offering grant writing assistance. Below is a sample of the projects selected in the first round of TSED:
- Alamosa County, Colorado, won $1.7M to study transmission corridors and conduct community engagement to increase electric transmission capacity in the Upper Rio Grande Valley in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.
- Baker School District 5J won $1.1M to launch a Lineman College and Training Hub in Baker City, Oregon.
- The City of Guymon, Oklahoma, won $17.6M to address water scarcity challenges and strengthen water infrastructure for the community’s long-term resilience and sustainability.
- The New York Power Authority won $43.5M to work with local schools, housing authorities, and community service agencies to develop clean energy education and job opportunities for disadvantaged communities.
What do all of these communities have in common? They are being impacted by the development of high-voltage transmission lines that make them eligible for the TSED program.
Not everyone who applied won. Not all who wanted to apply could.
DOE selected twenty winners for round one from hundreds of applications. There were ultimately many who did not win and more eligible entities that did not even apply. Potential applicants face a number of obstacles:
- Federal competitive grant applications carry an administrative burden and require expertise. Furthermore, DOE will judge the viability of an application in part on the applicant’s capacity to implement an award.
- This program blends transmission and economic development and brings together parties who may not have worked together before. State energy offices, state economic development offices, energy and environmental regulators, local governments, transmission developers, and impacted communities have an important role in shaping a successful application.
- While the five percent match requirement for economic development proposals unlocks opportunities for communities and local governments that would otherwise be out of reach, eligible match funding can be difficult to identify. Leveraging TSED to expand existing community-based efforts or programs can help meet the requirements.
Support for round two Transmission Siting and Economic Development (TSED) applicants
Compiling and submitting any federal application is a complex undertaking and is amplified more so for TSED applicants.
These applicants often need to combine diverse concepts while also integrating stakeholder voices and coordinating with state and local entities that don’t usually work together. For instance, while a state energy office might have great insight into transmission needs, it may lack knowledge about local economic development opportunities.
With tight timelines between program announcements, concept paper deadlines, and full application deadlines, many applicants need support to develop concepts and write comprehensive applications.
GPI’s Energy Systems team supported several successful applicants through round one. We provided expertise in the transmission development process, application templates, technical guidance, and writing support. Our team has a mix of expertise across state government and transmission development. Here are a few examples of how we can support TSED applicants:
- Galvanize ideas quickly into viable concepts
- Bring together robust interdisciplinary teams
- Help applicants keep communities and community outcomes at the center of their focus
While the DOE has not yet specified deadlines for round two of TSED, it is expected that they will make an announcement in early 2025. GPI’s team has been active in outreach efforts and engagement with project developers and eligible entities who have shown interest in pursuing concept papers, full applications, and resubmissions for the second round.
In addition, we created a high-level database of eligible transmission lines for interested applicants to determine project status, state locations, and eligibility for TSED topic areas one or two.
Webinar on November 14 at noon central
Join us on Thursday, November 14, at 12 p.m. CT for a webinar featuring speakers from some of the DOE’s awarded projects in the first round of the TSED grant program:
• Anne Pentiak – State Administrative Manager, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
• Brian Dudeck – Project Manager, Grid United
• James Harmening – Director of Cybersecurity & Risk Management, Illinois
Commerce Commission
Register for the webinar today!
For additional information or to inquire about direct assistance, please contact Matt Prorok at [email protected].
