The Department of Energy on Tuesday awarded $2.2 billion to eight transmission projects in 18 states that could expand grid capacity by about 13 GW. 

The projects include about 600 miles of new transmission and 400 miles of reconductored wiring as well as grid-enhancing technologies, long-duration energy storage, solar energy and microgrids. The awards are from DOE’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships program; project sponsors will provide about $7.8 billion in matching funding. 

The awards are part of a Biden administration effort to “to aggressively advance a more modern grid, a more energy-secure future, a grid that is more reliable and resilient and one that delivers more clean and affordable energy,” Ali Zaidi, the White House national climate advisor, said Monday during a media briefing.