Appalachian Power to serve as primary subrecipient of $40 million DOE SPARK grant

AEP is working with public partners to strengthen the grid, improve reliability and make every investment go further for customers.

Appalachian Power Company (APCo) will serve as the primary subrecipient of a $40 million award to the Commonwealth of Virginia through the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) program.

The funding will help upgrade about 14 miles of 138 kV transmission line in the Lynchburg area, increasing capacity, improving reliability and modernizing the grid.

The funding will also support the deployment of dynamic line rating (DLR) technology, which uses real-time conditions to help safely maximize the capacity of existing transmission lines. It will be implemented on four transmission lines:

• Museville-Smith Mountain
• Fieldale-Thornton
• Axton-AE2-140
• Claytor-South Christiansburg

"This funding allows us to strengthen the grid and expand capacity while making the most of the infrastructure already serving our communities," said Brian Abraham, president and chief operating officer of APCo. "By working with the Commonwealth of Virginia and the DOE, we can improve reliability and help keep costs more affordable for our customers while supporting the region's continued growth."

Making Every Investment Count

Together, the projects are designed to expand capacity, improve power flows and strengthen reliability while making better use of existing infrastructure.

The SPARK award is part of AEP's broader strategy to reduce customer costs while investing in reliability and resiliency. AEP has already secured federal loans and grants expected to provide nearly $1.6 billion in customer benefits.

Partnerships with the U.S. DOE are helping advance these investments while supporting the reliable, affordable electricity our communities need to grow.