Conservative Governors Express Support for GRIP Awards from Department of Energy

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program aims to enhance the resilience, reliability, and flexibility of the nation’s electric grid. The GRIP program is designed to accelerate the deployment of cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions that strengthen grid infrastructure.

The program recently announced awards of up to $2.2 billion across 8 projects. Funded from the bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act, these projects will help integrate 13 GW of energy onto the grid–enough to power nearly 10 million homes. The awards represent a significant and positive investment in our nation’s critical energy infrastructure.

The GRIP Program also focuses on protecting against the growing threats of extreme weather events, lowering costs for communities, and catalyzing additional grid capacity to meet the rising demand for electricity, which is increasing for the first time in almost two decades. As manufacturing and data centers expand, it is more important than ever to take proactive steps to ensure the reliability of our nation’s energy system.

By partnering with state and local governments, utilities, and private-sector entities, the GRIP program fosters collaboration and investment in projects that improve power grid resilience and support the integration of a diverse mix of energy resources, including renewables. Through the streamlining of regulatory processes and encouragement of free market investment, these GRIP awards will help modernize our nation’s power grid in a way that respects property rights and fosters economic growth.

Garnering bipartisan support for grid security and resiliency efforts is paramount for achieving a reliable, affordable, secure, and clean American energy grid. This support is growing, with Governors Doug Burgum (R-ND) and Greg Gianforte (R-MT) expressing their appreciation for the GRIP program’s recent investments. Governor Burgum highlighted the North Plains Connector project, noting it will create a critical link between electricity markets and regions, support an all-of-the-above energy approach, and contribute to national energy security. Governor Gianforte emphasized the importance of a steady supply of affordable and reliable energy for communities across Montana and the United States, noting that this investment will help upgrade and modernize Montana’s electrical transmission infrastructure to power homes, schools, and businesses.

Hearing directly from the states regarding important federal actions like these is crucial for achieving effective development and deployment of improved transmission systems. The bipartisan support for the GRIP program underscores the shared commitment to building a resilient and secure energy future for all Americans.You are able to read Governor Burgum’s and Governor Gianforte’s full statement here.