The U.S. Department of Energy has selected CenterPoint Energy for a $50 million award to help fund advanced substation technology upgrades in Greater Houston, according to a Sept. 24 CenterPoint press release.
The award isn't final yet. CenterPoint and DOE still have to finish negotiations before it can help fund the work.
Through the project, CenterPoint will become one of the first utilities in the nation to install Siemens Energy's transmission grid stabilizing technology.
Upgrade Mode: The grant comes through DOE's SPARK program, short for Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades. That's thirteen words to spell five letters.
SPARK backs projects that modernize existing electrical infrastructure. In other words, the program is about getting more out of the grid that's already in place.
Per CenterPoint, the technology can respond rapidly to changes in electricity demand and help maintain reliable service for local customers. The key expected benefits:
Stronger resiliency and reliability during periods of high demand
More capacity to meet current and future demand and economic growth
More than 500 local jobs supporting project construction and installation
The release ties that capacity boost to one of the fastest growing regions in Texas and the nation.
Coastal Ambitions: CenterPoint serves 2.9 million customers in Greater Houston. Jason Ryan, executive vice president of regulatory services and government affairs, said the mission is to build "the most resilient coastal grid in the nation."
Texas Public Utility Commissioner Kathleen Jackson said the long-term impact of improvements like this is "making the entire grid stronger for Texans."
Watch two things: when negotiations close, and whether the promised jobs materialize. The release flags job creation, along with the project's other benefits, as forward-looking statements.
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