COLUMBUS, Ohio (AVC News) — Ohio has been awarded $273 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to upgrade the state’s existing high-voltage electric infrastructure.
Gov. Mike DeWine announced the grant Thursday as part of the Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades, or SPARK, initiative.
“Upgrading existing infrastructure makes sense, and this grant opportunity allows us to do that,” said Governor DeWine. “Ohio, like much of the country, is facing increasing electricity demand over the next decade. Thank you to the Trump Administration and Secretary Chris Wright for this funding that will help Ohio meet the needs of our businesses and our citizens.”
Of the total grant, $137 million will go to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to work with transmission utilities on advanced technologies designed to increase the capacity of the existing electric grid. The upgrades are intended to allow the grid to carry more electricity without requiring the construction of additional transmission infrastructure.
PUCO estimates the improvements could add the equivalent of 5,820 megawatts of capacity to Ohio’s electric grid. The state says that additional capacity could reduce the need for new power plants or transmission lines.
Ohio has laid the groundwork for deploying advanced transmission technologies through the enactment of House Bill 15 in 2025. The PUCO published a report on opportunities from advanced transmission technologies.
Read more from U.S. DOE here.
