Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), a leading sustainable energy company and part of the Iberdrola Group, has announced that its subsidiary, Central Maine Power (CMP), has been awarded $31.8 million in federal funding. This grant aims to implement innovative technologies to modernize and enhance Maine’s power grid, facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources. The funding is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program and is backed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The initiatives are being spearheaded in Maine by the Flexible Interconnections and Resilience for Maine (FIRM) project, led by the Governor’s Energy Office under Governor Janet Mills. The funding will specifically be utilized to deploy Active Network Management (ANM) and Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) technologies, which will help connect additional renewable energy to the grid while preventing overloads.
Pedro Azagra, CEO of Avangrid, stated, “Connecting more clean, affordable energy to Maine’s power grid is essential to achieving the state’s climate objectives. In the past year, CMP and Avangrid have received nearly half a billion dollars in federal awards that will directly benefit our customers. I want to express our gratitude to Governor Mills, Secretary Granholm, and Maine’s Congressional Delegation for their support as we work to address extreme weather and develop smarter, more resilient energy infrastructure for Maine.”
Governor Mills emphasized the importance of a robust electrical grid, stating, “To reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and adopt clean energy, we must ensure that Maine has a strong grid capable of efficiently delivering power from multiple sources to our residents and businesses. My Administration is committed to modernizing our electrical infrastructure through innovative projects like this one, supported by federal funding. I thank Maine’s Congressional Delegation and the Biden-Harris Administration for their investment, made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”
This grant contributes to a total of nearly half a billion dollars in federal awards received by Central Maine Power and Avangrid within the year. Key projects funded include:
- October 2024: FIRM project – $31.8 million for smart grid technologies to enhance renewable energy integration.
- September 2024: Aroostook Renewable Project – $425 million capacity contract for transmission line development, a historic federal investment in Maine’s energy sector.
- July 2024: Shaw Mill Project – $1.6 million for upgraded grid measures to improve reliability for local communities.
- October 2023: $30.3 million for deploying Smart Grid technologies to reduce outage frequency and impact across Maine.
Dan Burgess, Director of the Maine Governor’s Energy Office, remarked, “A strong, modern electrical grid is crucial for providing affordable, reliable, clean energy to Maine residents. This award will bring cutting-edge technologies that will expand grid capacity and facilitate the flexible management of clean energy resources while also fostering job creation and workforce development opportunities.”
