Transmission Acceleration Grants (TAG) will support State and Tribal efforts to accelerate and improve transmission siting and permitting and strengthen transmission planning for critical transmission lines (100 kV or greater) in any area of the country. Eligible participants are State or Tribal entities, or entities working with them such as regional transmission planning organizations, regional-state committees, or not-for-profit organizations. The TAG Program is making $10 million in funding available at this time.
Transmission Acceleration Grants (TAG) are a new opportunity from the Grid Deployment Office to accelerate transmission development. These grants will support initiatives to modernize and accelerate State transmission planning, siting, and permitting processes and increase the capacity of State and Tribal governments to engage in transmission development activities. States and Tribes (or entities working with them, such as regional transmission planning organizations, regional-state committees, or not-for-profit organizations) can apply for a grant to study or implement modern approaches to assess the need for and impacts of new transmission infrastructure, or to increase the speed of transmission project reviews.
Example approaches include:
TAG is managed by TechWerx in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), a collaboration made possible through a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) set up by the DOE's Office of Technology Transitions. TechWerx is facilitating this opportunity to identify performers for the first round of TAG. Additional rounds are subject to the availability of funds. Learn more about PIAs here.
The TAG program will support State and Tribal efforts to accelerate and improve transmission siting and permitting and strengthen transmission planning. Through these efforts, TAG awards will advance a rapid and reliable energy transition that reduces consumer costs and makes the electricity grid more resilient, benefiting all Americans.
DOE is seeking applications from State or Tribal entities, or entities that would work directly with State and Tribal entities, for projects that support State and Tribal efforts to plan, review, or permit critical transmission lines expected to operate at a voltage of 100 kV or greater in any area of the country. Applications should present a plan of no more than 12 months of activities in support of State and Tribal efforts in one or more of the following areas:
These can be collaborative, multi-jurisdictional initiatives, or single-State efforts. An entity may submit only one application but may be a participant in multiple applications led by other entities.
DOE has at least $10 million available for this funding opportunity. Each award is limited to a maximum of $3 million. There will be no federal cost share requirement.
October 31, 2024
November 13, 2024 at 1:00 PM ET
December 3, 2024 at 2:00 PM ET and January 14, 2025 at 3:00 PM ET
January 21, 2025 by 5:00 pm ET
Phase 1) Submissions Open from October 31, 2024 – January 21, 2025
Phase 2) DOE Selection is expected in April 2025: DOE will review submissions based on relevance to the program objectives and review criteria and notify selected entities for next steps. Note that DOE may choose to meet with submitters or ask additional clarifying questions prior to selection.
Phase 3) Negotiations will occur for approximately two months after selections are made: Selected organizations will meet with TechWerx to negotiate work, budget, timing, and impact.
DOE retains the prerogative to require additional information from the applicants to verify the applicant meets the eligibility requirements. Further, DOE retains the prerogative to decide whether to fund the proposed project entirely, partially, or not at all.
1 To qualify as a domestic entity, the entity must be organized, chartered, or incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of a particular State or territory of the United States; have majority domestic ownership and control; and have a physical place of business in the United States.
2 DOE defines Country of Risk to include China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. This list is subject to change.
3 Foreign Government-Sponsored Talent Recruitment Program is defined as an effort directly or indirectly organized, managed, or funded by a foreign government, or a foreign government instrumentality or entity, to recruit science and technology professionals or students (regardless of citizenship or national origin, or whether having a full-time or part-time position). Some foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment programs operate with the intent to import or otherwise acquire from abroad, sometimes through illicit means, proprietary technology or software, unpublished data and methods, and intellectual property to further the military modernization goals and/or economic goals of a foreign government. Many, but not all, programs aim to incentivize the targeted individual to relocate physically to the foreign state for the above purpose. Some programs allow for or encourage continued employment at United States research facilities or receipt of federal research funds while concurrently working at and/or receiving compensation from a foreign institution, and some direct participants not to disclose their participation to U.S. entities. Compensation could take many forms including cash, research funding, complimentary foreign travel, honorific titles, career advancement opportunities, promised future compensation, or other types of remuneration or consideration, including in-kind compensation.