US DOE invests $2B in 31 grid projects to unlock 23 GW for data centers

The Department of Energy announced $2 billion in subsidies for 31 projects across 26 states to deploy sensors and high-capacity conductors, aiming to add over 23 GW of capacity to the aging grid. This is a targeted response to surging electricity demand from data centers, signaling a shift toward grid modernization rather than new generation. The initiative's success hinges on timely deployment and regulatory coordination, with implications for power reliability and data center expansion.