The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a $32 million investment to support six pilot projects aimed at advancing grid-edge technology and smart charge management. These projects, spanning eight states, are part of the Connected Communities 2.0 initiative and focus on enhancing grid resilience, efficiency, and flexibility to meet growing electric demands.

"Providing low-cost, resilient, and reliable energy to all Americans is a top priority for the DOE," said Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The selected projects will integrate energy efficiency, demand-responsive building systems, energy storage, and electric vehicle (EV) smart charging to optimize grid operations.

Three projects target Connected Communities, including:

• ACCELERATING Connectivity in Minnesota ($5.3M), led by the Beneficial Electrification League, focusing on managing residential thermal loads.
• Purdue University in Indiana ($5.9M), demonstrating rural load growth management.
• The RECHARGE initiative in California ($6M), addressing residential and industrial energy needs in San Jose and Fresno County.

Three projects center on Smart Charge Management, including:

• One Energy Enterprises in Ohio ($3.2M), establishing a charging depot for medium- and heavy-duty EV fleets.
• Baltimore Gas & Electric Company in Maryland ($5.9M), deploying technology to reduce residential EV charging peaks.
• EV.Energy across five states ($6M), validating smart charge solutions like vehicle-to-grid integration.

These projects aim to equip utilities, automakers, and communities with scalable strategies for future energy demands. Additional awards from the $65M funding pool are forthcoming.