The U.S. Department of Energy awarded $2.5 million through its Transmission Acceleration Grants program to Johns Hopkins University and the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission on February 3, 2026. The funding supports two distinct projects aimed at expanding grid capacity and reducing electricity costs by leveraging existing infrastructure rather than building new lines. One project focuses on analyzing alternative transmission technologies across the PJM Interconnection footprint, while the other conducts a resource adequacy study for under-utilized interconnection points in Pennsylvania.
What it means
The grants address bottlenecks in grid expansion by targeting existing rights-of-way and interconnection points. The Johns Hopkins project, titled Leadership in Innovations for Grid High-voltage Transmission for States (LIGHTS), will analyze alternative transmission technologies including dynamic line ratings, advanced power flow control, and high-performance conductors. According to the Department of Energy, these technologies can increase capacity on existing lines within the 13-state PJM Interconnection footprint, which includes the District of Columbia. The project aims to develop a replicable framework for identifying candidate projects that meet state transmission needs.
The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission will use its award for the Pennsylvania Accelerated Transmission and Energy Redevelopment (PATER) Study. This two-part resource adequacy study targets 20 under-utilized points of interconnection in Pennsylvania to support data center growth. Katie Jereza, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Electricity, stated that “Electricity demand must soar to keep up with ever expanding data center and manufacturing growth.” She noted that “It is no exaggeration, the next decade of American competitiveness will be decided by the reliability of power, the affordability of that power, and the speed at which we can bring that power online. Our investment in these two projects leverages existing resources to support capacity building and local and regional transmission planning.” The TAG program was created in response to feedback from state and tribal entities regarding transmission backlogs, noting that federal permitting for a new electric transmission line takes approximately four years on average.
Key facts
- $2.5 million awarded through the Transmission Acceleration Grants (TAG) program
- Recipients: Johns Hopkins University and Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission
- Johns Hopkins project: Leadership in Innovations for Grid High-voltage Transmission for States (LIGHTS)
- Pennsylvania PUC project: Pennsylvania Accelerated Transmission and Energy Redevelopment (PATER) Study
- LightS targets existing transmission rights-of-way in PJM’s interconnection footprint (13 states and D.C.)
- PATER study targets 20 under-utilized points of interconnection in Pennsylvania
- Federal permitting for new electric transmission lines averages four years
- TAG program managed by TECHWERX via Partnership Intermediary Agreement with DOE’s Office of Technology Commercialization
Source: U.S. Department of Energy news release (energy.gov)