National Grid granted $50M to aid in plan for clean power integration and improve energy equity

Photo | Courtesy of Adobe Stock Utilities are preparing for the integration of more clean power.

Write a Comment

By Timothy Doyle

The U.S. Department of Energy awarded a $50 million grant to aid utility company National Grid’s $140 million initiative to modernize the electric grid, improve power grid control, improve integration of clean energy and create more equitable distribution of power to underserved communities.

The plan outlines a comprehensive and flexible path designed to expand and upgrade the current electric distribution grid, ensure reliability, enable increased electrification, and empower smart customer choices and the transition away from a fossil-based economy, according to a September post on National Grid’s website.

“We are at an inflection point in the Commonwealth’s energy future. We must continue to invest to achieve our shared goal of accelerating the adoption of climate and clean energy solutions by all customers and communities across Massachusetts. Today we’ve submitted a plan that strives to do just that,” National Grid New England President Stephen Woerner said in the post. “With electric peak demand expected to double over the next 25 years, driven by substantial growth in the use of electric heating and transportation, now is the time to build a future grid that is smarter, stronger and cleaner. We must harness our state’s innovative and collaborative spirit to achieve an energy future that works for all.”

The funding comes from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act under the Grid Resilience and Innovative Partnerships Program. National Grid’s proposal was chosen from among more than 100 submitted from organizations across the country, according to a Friday press release from National Grid.

"This is a tremendous win for our customers in Massachusetts and New York," Woerner said in the press release. "As we strive to accelerate the clean energy transition, the advanced software technology we've proposed will not only allow for faster and easier integration of decarbonized resources but also will unlock the full value of these resources for the benefit of our customers and the grid. We thank the Department of Energy for their support and look forward to rolling up our sleeves and getting to work."