WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has granted Alamosa County $1,699,965 to study transmission lines in the Valley according to Alamosa County Commissioner Lori Laske.
Alamosa County will conduct an analysis and extensive community engagement around three potential transmission corridors to identify the optimal route to increase electric transmission capacity to the Upper Rio Grande Valley in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.
According to the DOE, “In a continued effort to expedite the build out of a resilient and reliable electric grid, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced 20 projects across 16 states selected to receive up to $371 million to accelerate the permitting of high-voltage, interstate transmission projects.
“These projects will also support community infrastructure projects along major new and upgraded transmissions lines, including upgrading public school buildings and emergency response facilities. Administered by DOE's Grid Deployment Office, today’s Transmission Siting and Economic Development (TSED) grants will help advance at least 16 high-impact transmission lines across the country supporting the deployment of reliable and affordable energy for consumers and creating good-paying jobs.”
“Today, every pocket of the country is experiencing the grueling impact of extreme weather and there’s no doubt that we must expand our transmission grid to get more clean, resilient power to more people, in more places,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm.
The print edition of the Valley Courier will have more on this news on Friday.
