The US Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PA PUC) a $2 million grant for the Pennsylvania Accelerated Transmission and Energy Redevelopment (PATER) Study.

According to a press release, the PA PUC will partner with Team Pennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro’s Office of Public Policy, the Department of Community and Economic Development, the Department of Environmental Protection’s Energy Programs Office, and the Office of Consumer Advocate to study cost effective opportunities to make grid additions.

The PATER Study will evaluate energy development efficiencies, new power opportunities, and recently retired power generation sites. The first part of the PATER Study will be completed mid-year and available for public review and comment. The second phase is anticipated to be completed and open for public review by the end of 2026.

“I’m an all-of-the-above energy Governor, and I am laser focused on bringing more power to the grid while keeping costs down for the good people of Pennsylvania,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Our Commonwealth is already a net energy exporter and a national energy leader. My Administration has built on that strong position of leadership by introducing my Lightning Plan to generate more energy, create more energy jobs, and lower costs for consumers – and at the same time, we’ve brought Pennsylvania utilities and our grid operator, PJM, to the table to discuss significant reforms that will further keep costs down for Pennsylvanians. This study will build on that work by enabling our Commonwealth to identify cost-effective projects and upgrades to bring even more power onto the grid, and more valuable sites back into use.”

The PATER Study is funded through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Transmission Acceleration Grant program, the press release said.

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