US government reveals $5.25 billion spending on boosting national grid to help power new AI data centers — money will cover 31 projects across 26 states, but how will it affect energy bills?
- The US Department of Energy has plans for $1.9 billion in grants for 31 grid projects worth $5.25 billion, with recipients covering the other $3.35 billion
- The money is essentially rebranded Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) funding from the 2021 infrastructure law, aimed at reconductoring and grid-enhancing tech rather than a focus on new power plants
- Only three project summaries tie the work to AI or data center demand, but half the value of the spending sits in four state-led projects under a category DOE designed around 'new large loads', which could potentially be addressing AI data center demand
The US Department of Energy's Office of Electricity said on September 24 that it intends to help fund 31 transmission projects under its Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades initiative, a mouthful that it has somewhat mercifully shortened to SPARK.
The $5.25 billion...
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