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               Congressional                                                       ____
           ~   Research Service






Electricity Transmission Provisions in the

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022



Updated January 4, 2024


On August  16, 2022, President Biden signed into law P.L. 117-169, commonly known as the Inflation
Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). The IRA contains several provisions aimed at incentivizing increased
development of electricity transmission infrastructure in the United States. Many stakeholders view an
enhanced U.S. transmission system as key to enabling increased use of wind and solar energy for
electricity generation and improving resilience to extreme weather events. This analysis summarizes the
three transmission provisions in Part 5 of Subtitle A of Title V of the IRA. In total, this part appropriates
almost $2.9 billion for transmission provisions. Other provisions in the IRA, such as those related to loan
programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, could potentially incentivize transmission
development, but this analysis does not include them.
Section 50151 (Transmission Facility Financing) appropriates $2 billion to remain available until
September 30, 2030, for a direct loan program for certain transmission project development. To be
eligible for a direct loan, a transmission project would need to be located in a National Interest Electric
Transmission Corridor (NIETC). The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) may designate an area as an
NIETC  pursuant to 16 U.S.C. @824p if it meets certain criteria, such as promoting energy security or
enabling the use of intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar. On December 19, 2023, DOE
released final guidance for the NIETC designation process (no NIETCs currently exist). The guidance
outlines DOE's process for NIETC designation. DOE intends to release a preliminary list of NIETC
designations in spring 2024, with any final designations occurring after environmental review and
additional public engagement around areas in the preliminary list.
Section 50152 (Grants to Facilitate the Siting of Interstate Electricity Transmission Lines) appropriates
$760 million to remain available through September 30, 2029, for making grants aimed at facilitating the
siting of certain onshore and offshore transmission lines. In general, state and local governments have
authority for siting electricity transmission infrastructure in the United States. This section would allow
relevant siting authorities to receive grants to be used for purposes including transmission project studies,
examination of alternative siting corridors, hosting negotiations with project backers and opponents,
participating in federal and state regulatory proceedings, and promoting economic development in
affected communities. Grants under this section would be contingent on the siting authority agreeing to

                                                                  Congressional Research Service
                                                                    https://crsreports.congress.gov
                                                                                        IN11981

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