States must now plan for new power lines and grid upgrades to get federal energy money

The US Department of Energy made a rule final that changes how states get federal energy grants. States must now use some of that money to plan for new power lines and grid upgrades.

For years, federal energy grants to states often funded smaller, local projects. This change means states must now focus on larger, regional infrastructure needs. It pushes states to think about how to connect new energy sources to the grid, rather than just building them.