New Grant Funding for Wholesale Electricity Market Studies and Engagement

Publication
Written By Amy Kirschbaum

New Grant Funding for Wholesale Electricity Market Studies and
Engagement
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office (GDO) recently announced the new Wholesale Electricity Market Studies and Engagement (WEMSE) Program, which will provide technical and financial support to states and regional system operators to develop, expand, and improve wholesale electricity markets.
The WEMSE program will assist states, Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) / Independent System Operators (ISOs), and their regional partners with performing analytical studies on critical market issues and/or convening stakeholders to address issues facing developing or existing wholesale markets. Individuals, for-profit entities, tribes, educational institutions, and nonprofits are eligible to apply as prime recipients, provided they include a state or RTO/ISO as a partner on the application/project team.
GDO suggests five broad analytical priorities for proposed projects:

1. Seams between markets. (Seams are differences in wholesale electricity market designs, rules, and planning timelines and approaches between neighboring wholesale electricity markets.)
2. Regional resource adequacy.
3. Market design and price formation.
4. Regional footprint studies.
5. Integrated regional planning approaches.

The GDO anticipates awarding six to 14 applicants nationwide between $500,000 and $3,000,000 per award.
Concept papers for the first round of WEMSE funding are due by Nov. 3, 2023.
Subsequent rounds will open in 2024. The multiple rounds of funding are intended to give states, market operators, and other wholesale market stakeholders time to develop coalitions and coordinate joint applications.

Amy Kirschbaum

Amy Kirschbaum began her career on Capitol Hill in the office of Congressman E. Clay Shaw, Jr. (FL). Upon leaving her post as legislative assistant in Congressman Shaw's office, Amy worked for the U.S. Congressional Sunbelt Caucus as a legislative assistant and later as the Legislative Director. In 1992, Amy moved to Oregon where she continued her career in public affairs at the Oregon Department of Transportation. Before joining Strategics Consulting, Amy was the Executive Director of the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Oregon and SW Washington. Amy grew up in Broward County, FL, and earned a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Duke University.

Email Amy at: amy@strategics.consulting

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