Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003101

The Inflation Reduction Act - Transmission Siting and Economic Development Program is a U.S. Department of Energy funding opportunity that supports state, local, and tribal governments in making it easier to site and build interstate electricity transmission lines. The FOA is administered by the Department of Energy through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) on behalf of DOE's Grid Deployment Office (GDO). The money for the awards comes from Section 50152 of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which specifically set aside funding for grants intended to facilitate the siting of interstate electric transmission. In practical terms, the program is aimed at reducing the non-technical barriers that often slow down or stop major transmission projects, while also encouraging communities to connect transmission development with local economic benefits.

This opportunity is a discretionary grant program in the energy funding category, listed under CFDA number 81.254. It is identified as Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0003101, with a creation date of August 29, 2023, and an original application deadline of April 5, 2024. DOE indicated it expected to make around 80 awards, with an award ceiling of up to $50,000,000 per grant. That ceiling suggests the program is designed to accommodate both smaller planning or engagement efforts and larger, multi-jurisdictional initiatives that may require significant resources to move transmission siting forward.

Eligible applicants are limited to governmental entities that typically play central roles in permitting, land use, community engagement, and regional planning. Specifically, eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The eligibility list signals that DOE is targeting entities that can coordinate across agencies and communities, manage public processes, and implement the kinds of planning, engagement, and permitting-related improvements that can accelerate transmission development while addressing local priorities.

At a high level, the program is about enabling the conditions that make interstate transmission siting more predictable, efficient, and publicly workable. While the FOA title highlights both "Transmission Siting" and "Economic Development," the combination is important: DOE is not only trying to move transmission projects through the siting process, but also to help jurisdictions shape outcomes so that communities along proposed corridors can see tangible benefits. This can include strengthening local capacity to evaluate proposals, running more effective public participation processes, coordinating across borders and agencies, and aligning transmission development with community needs. The overall policy intent is consistent with the national push to expand and modernize the grid so it can deliver more reliable power, integrate new generation resources, and relieve congestion across regions, all while improving the way transmission projects are planned and accepted.

In short, this FOA provides potentially large-scale grant support to public-sector applicants to address the planning, coordination, and community-facing challenges that commonly determine whether major interstate transmission lines can be successfully sited. It is one of the IRA-backed tools DOE is using to speed grid buildout by investing not just in hardware, but in the governance, processes, and local readiness needed to get transmission projects across the finish line.

  • The Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Inflation Reduction Act - Transmission Siting and Economic Development Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.254.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Aug 29, 2023.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 05, 2024. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 80 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
Apply for DE FOA 0003101

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Inflation Reduction Act - Transmission Siting and Economic Development Program?

It is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) discretionary grant program that provides funding to help state, local, and tribal governments make it easier to site and build interstate electricity transmission lines. The program focuses on reducing non-technical barriers that can delay or stop major transmission projects, while also encouraging communities to tie transmission development to local economic benefits.

Which federal agency is offering and administering this funding opportunity?

The funding opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is administered by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) on behalf of DOE's Grid Deployment Office (GDO).

What is the purpose of this FOA in practical terms?

In practical terms, the FOA is intended to support improvements to planning, coordination, and community-facing processes that affect whether interstate transmission lines can be successfully sited. It targets non-technical barriers, such as permitting complexity, cross-jurisdictional coordination challenges, and public engagement needs, that often slow down or prevent transmission development.

Why does the program emphasize both transmission siting and economic development?

The program is designed not only to make transmission siting more predictable and efficient, but also to help jurisdictions shape outcomes so communities along proposed corridors can see tangible benefits. The intent is to connect transmission development with local economic priorities rather than treating siting as a purely technical or regulatory exercise.

Where does the funding authority for these awards come from?

The funding for awards comes from Section 50152 of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which set aside funding specifically for grants intended to facilitate the siting of interstate electric transmission.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DE FOA 0003101.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity is listed under CFDA number 81.254.

When was this FOA created?

The FOA creation date is August 29, 2023.

What was the original application deadline?

The original application deadline was April 5, 2024.

How many awards did DOE expect to make?

DOE indicated it expected to make around 80 awards.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is up to $50,000,000 per grant.

What does the $50,000,000 award ceiling suggest about the types of projects supported?

The ceiling suggests the program can accommodate both smaller planning or engagement efforts and larger, multi-jurisdictional initiatives that may require significant resources to move transmission siting forward.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are governmental entities. Specifically, eligibility includes state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.

Are non-government organizations eligible to apply directly?

The eligibility described is limited to governmental entities (state, county, city/township, special district, and federally recognized tribal governments). No other applicant types are listed as eligible based on the provided information.

Why are the eligible applicants limited to government entities?

The eligible applicant list indicates DOE is targeting entities that typically play central roles in permitting, land use, community engagement, and regional planning. These entities are positioned to coordinate across agencies and communities, manage public processes, and implement planning and permitting-related improvements that can accelerate transmission development while addressing local priorities.

What kinds of barriers is the program trying to reduce?

The program is aimed at reducing non-technical barriers that often slow down or stop major transmission projects. Based on the description, this includes challenges tied to planning, coordination, public participation, and permitting and siting processes.

What types of activities does the program generally support?

At a high level, the program supports efforts that make interstate transmission siting more predictable, efficient, and publicly workable. Examples described include strengthening local capacity to evaluate proposals, running more effective public participation processes, coordinating across borders and agencies, and aligning transmission development with community needs.

Does the program fund transmission line construction itself?

The program is described as investing not just in hardware, but in governance, processes, and local readiness needed to get transmission projects across the finish line. Based on the information provided, the emphasis is on planning, coordination, and community-facing challenges rather than directly funding physical construction.

What is meant by "interstate" electricity transmission in this context?

In this context, "interstate" refers to electric transmission lines that cross state boundaries, which often require complex coordination and siting efforts across multiple jurisdictions and stakeholders.

How does this FOA relate to DOE's broader grid goals?

The FOA aligns with a national push to expand and modernize the electric grid to deliver more reliable power, integrate new generation resources, and relieve congestion across regions, while improving the way transmission projects are planned and accepted.

Which DOE office is associated with this program?

The FOA is administered by NETL on behalf of DOE's Grid Deployment Office (GDO).

What funding category does this opportunity fall under?

The opportunity is in the energy funding category and is described as a discretionary grant program.

What is the core outcome DOE is trying to achieve through this funding?

The core outcome is to speed the buildout of interstate transmission by improving the governance and processes that determine whether projects can be successfully sited, while also supporting approaches that connect transmission development to community economic benefits.

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