Request for Information (RFI): Accelerating Speed to Power/Winning the Artificial Intelligence Race: Federal Action to Rapidly Expand Grid Capacity and Enable Electricity Demand Growth Grant

Request for Information (RFI): Accelerating Speed to Power/Winning the Artificial Intelligence Race: Federal Action to Rapidly Expand Grid Capacity and Enable Electricity Demand Growth Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: National Energy Technology Laboratory
Last Updated: November 04, 2025

Summary

This Request for Information (RFI) seeks input on the urgent need for gigawatt-scale electricity generation and transmission due to rapid demand growth from data centers and advanced manufacturing. The U.S. electric grid faces significant challenges, including limited capacity and aging infrastructure, which could hinder timely interconnection of new energy sources. Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on overcoming regulatory and operational barriers to meet this escalating demand.

Overview

The purpose of this RFI is to solicit feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, impacted communities and other stakeholders on issues related to gigawatt-scale generation and transmission investments driven by projected electricity demand growth from data centers, advanced manufacturing facilities, semiconductor fabrication plants, and other large energy users that are outpacing the capacity of the existing electric grid. Background Large-scale electricity demand growth is occurring at a pace and scale that presents significant challenges to the U.S. electric grid. In several regions, planned and proposed data centers, semiconductor fabrication plants, manufacturing facilities, and other large loads are driving multi- gigawatt increases in electric demand. Many of these new loads are highly location-specific, have accelerated timelines, and depend on rapid interconnection of reliable electricity supply. This growth has exposed gaps in existing infrastructure, including limited transmission capacity, grid congestion, aging grid infrastructure, and delays in interconnection processes for both load and new generation. Long-lead times for transmission and generation development, along with regulatory, permitting, planning, and operational challenges, are threatening the ability of critical projects to meet demand.

Eligibility

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