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

The Accelerating Speed to Power/Winning the Artificial Intelligence Race RFI, issued by the Grid Deployment Office of the U.S. Department of Energy, invites public input on expanding electric grid capacity to meet growing energy demands driven by data centers, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductor facilities. This Request for Information (RFI) seeks to collect insights from stakeholders including state energy offices, electric utilities, regional transmission operators, transmission developers, and large energy users. The overarching goal is to accelerate infrastructure development that supports national competitiveness in artificial intelligence and industrial growth, consistent with recent federal priorities. As background, the DOE cites significant regional increases in electric load demand—up to 20 GW in some instances—as evidence of urgency. These increases often stem from high-energy-use industries with time-sensitive deployment schedules and location-specific siting. The existing grid faces challenges such as congestion, insufficient transmission capacity, outdated infrastructure, and protracted interconnection timelines. To address these issues, the DOE is evaluating its funding tools and administrative mechanisms to strengthen the federal role in grid expansion, supported by recent executive orders emphasizing energy dominance, AI leadership, nuclear power expansion, and grid reliability. The RFI aims to identify large-scale infrastructure projects that support incremental electric load growth of at least 3 GW, with specific interest in projects such as interregional transmission lines (≥1,000 MVA), reconductoring of existing lines (≥500 MVA), reactivation of retired thermal generation assets, and new generation portfolios. These efforts may benefit from DOE coordination, technical assistance, or financial support through programs like the Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP), the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program, and DOE loan/loan guarantee authorities. Stakeholders are invited to provide detailed project data, including geographical scope, development status, load estimates, funding raised, regulatory barriers, and DOE program engagement. Additionally, DOE seeks recommendations on high-priority geographic zones for investment—particularly where grid constraints limit economic development—and suggestions on how its financial and technical resources can be structured to de-risk early-stage infrastructure projects and attract private capital. Feedback is also requested on DOE’s coordination with other federal agencies, technical assistance needs, and data gaps. Submissions are due by 5:00 PM ET on November 21, 2025, via email to SpeedtoPowerRFI@hq.doe.gov. Responses must be in PDF format, no longer than 15 pages. This RFI is not a funding opportunity; rather, it is a planning tool to inform DOE strategies and potential future funding notices. For further information, stakeholders may contact David Parsons at (240) 474-2279 or via the same email. All interested entities are encouraged to contribute insights to help shape DOE’s response to urgent national grid infrastructure challenges.