Energy Department Creates New Offices to Modernize Electric Grid, Lower Power Costs

The Department of Energy announced that it has launched two new program offices as its contribution to the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to lower energy costs and promote the broader use of clean power. 

The newly formed Grid Deployment Office and Office of State and Community Energy Programs are also envisioned to help generate good-paying jobs, bring economic opportunities to underserved communities and help achieve President Joe Biden’s environmental goals, the DOE said Wednesday.

In a statement, the department said the new offices will be administered through the Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure, with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It is seen to pave the way for attaining 100 percent clean electricity by 2035 and a net zero economy by 2050.

Energy Sec. Jennifer Granholm said the new offices will see to it that states, tribes and territories are provided with the best practices to drive down energy costs and deliver cleaner air to their communities. She emphasized that the DOE is working faster than ever to modernize and upgrade America’s energy infrastructure towards cheaper and cleaner electricity.

It was further announced that Maria Robinson will serve as the director of the Grid Deployment Office. Specifically, her office has been tasked to improve electricity delivery and reliability, as well as modernize the electrical grid and critical electricity-generating facilities. 

Meanwhile, Henry McKoy will serve as the director of the Office of State and Community Energy Programs. His office aims to significantly accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies to reduce energy costs for households and businesses while catalyzing local economic development and creating high-quality jobs, according to the DOE.