DEGD0001019
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) - Flexible Interconnections and Resilience for Maine (Project FIRM)
This project will create a more modern and dynamic grid that will drive robust distributed energy resource (DER) and renewable energy deployment in Maine while ensuring resilience and affordability for ratepayers.
The project will accomplish this by implementing leading-edge software and hardware technologies to enable active network management (ANM) and facilitate flexible interconnections; installing static synchronous compensators (STATCOMs) to dynamically control voltage on circuits with high penetrations of renewable energy; and deploying dynamic line rating (DLR) technology to increase transmission line capacity on circuits experiencing renewable energy constraints.
The expected outcomes of this project include reduction in DER project costs associated with grid upgrades; use of DER curtailments instead of disconnections to achieve grid reliability; reduction in time for DER projects to clear the interconnection queue; increase in DER and renewable energy capacity connection; increase in transmission capacity available to support renewable energy projects; lessons learned for scaling ANM and DLR across Maine, New England, and the United States; demonstration of safe and reliable grid operations with high levels of DER penetration and streamlined interconnections; interconnection business process innovation; skilled workforce development to meet grid modernization needs; reduction in voltage anomalies occurring on circuits with STATCOMs deployed; and by investing in advanced technologies and workforce development, transformation of Maine’s clean energy market – driving private sector investment, ensuring affordable electricity prices, increasing grid operators’ ability to coordinate the dynamic grid for reliability and resilience, and advancing state and federal climate goals.
This project will create a more modern and dynamic grid that will drive robust distributed energy resource (DER) and renewable energy deployment in Maine while ensuring resilience and affordability for ratepayers.
The project will accomplish this by implementing leading-edge software and hardware technologies to enable active network management (ANM) and facilitate flexible interconnections; installing static synchronous compensators (STATCOMs) to dynamically control voltage on circuits with high penetrations of renewable energy; and deploying dynamic line rating (DLR) technology to increase transmission line capacity on circuits experiencing renewable energy constraints.
The expected outcomes of this project include reduction in DER project costs associated with grid upgrades; use of DER curtailments instead of disconnections to achieve grid reliability; reduction in time for DER projects to clear the interconnection queue; increase in DER and renewable energy capacity connection; increase in transmission capacity available to support renewable energy projects; lessons learned for scaling ANM and DLR across Maine, New England, and the United States; demonstration of safe and reliable grid operations with high levels of DER penetration and streamlined interconnections; interconnection business process innovation; skilled workforce development to meet grid modernization needs; reduction in voltage anomalies occurring on circuits with STATCOMs deployed; and by investing in advanced technologies and workforce development, transformation of Maine’s clean energy market – driving private sector investment, ensuring affordable electricity prices, increasing grid operators’ ability to coordinate the dynamic grid for reliability and resilience, and advancing state and federal climate goals.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (DE-FOA-0003195) SUPPORTS THE GRID RESILIENCE AND INNOVATION PARTNERSHIPS (GRIP) PROGRAM AND SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE AND REGIONAL RESILIENCE STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE INCREASING THREATS TO OUR POWER SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE; SPECIFICALLY, TO PREVENT OUTAGES AND ENHANCE THE RESILIENCE OF THE ELECTRIC GRID, DEPLOY TECHNOLOGIES TO ENHANCE GRID FLEXIBILITY, AND DEMONSTRATE INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO POWER SECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND RELIABILITY.
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding Agency
Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Augusta,
Maine
04330-6830
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Governors Energy Office was awarded
Maine Grid Modernization : Enhancing DER Deployment Resilience
Project Grant DEGD0001019
worth $65,359,234
from the Department of Energy in January 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Augusta Maine United States.
The grant
has a duration of 5 years and
was awarded through assistance program 81.254 Grid Infrastructure Deployment and Resilience.
$65,359,234 (50.0%) of this Project Grant was funded by non-federal sources.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Grid Resilience and Innovative Partnerships (GRIP).
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 5/28/25
Period of Performance
1/1/25
Start Date
12/31/29
End Date
Funding Split
$65.4M
Federal Obligation
$65.4M
Non-Federal Obligation
$130.7M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to DEGD0001019
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
DEGD0001019
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
State Government
Awarding Office
892433 NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY
Funding Office
892411 GRID DEPLOYMENT OFFICE (GDO)
Awardee UEI
SMUBL99CK218
Awardee CAGE
62ED5
Performance District
ME-02
Senators
Susan Collins
Angus King
Angus King
Modified: 5/28/25