ARRA Milestones and Key Dates

2/17/09

ARRA legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama, authorizing funding for modernizing and securing the Smart Grid, grant investment programs, demonstration projects, renewable energy generation and technologies, research and development.

3/19/09

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announces Smart Grid policy proposal to speed development of key Smart Grid interoperability standards.

4/16/09

Vice President Joe Biden outlined funding for Smart Grid initiatives, including plans to distribute more than $3.3 billion in Smart Grid technology development grants and an additional $615 million for Smart Grid storage, monitoring and technology viability.  

5/5/05

Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced plans to provide $786.5 million from the ARRA to accelerate advanced biofuels R&D and to provide additional funding for commercial-scale biorefinery demonstration projects.

5/20/09

Responding to criticism from utilities, state officials, and others, the DOE hiked the Smart Grid Investment Program grant award ceiling from $20 million to $200 million, and the Smart Grid regional demonstration project ceiling from $40 million to $100 million.

First set of Smart Grid Interoperability Standards announced by Energy Secretary Chu and Commerce Secretary Locke, and available for comment.

5/27/09

President Obama announced $467 million from the ARRA to expand and accelerate the development, deployment, and use of geothermal and solar energy throughout the United States.

6/17/09

Deadline for state projects to use 50 percent of the funds allocated to them in order to be considered "quick-start."  

7/10/09

Deadline for recipients of federal stimulus funding, including states, to submit first report to federal government.

7/29/09

Deadline for participants in National Smart Grid Conference to provide drafts of evaluation metrics for Smart Grid funding.

8/09

DOE electric transmission congestion study scheduled for completion. Also includes provisions for addressing transmission issues confronting renewable energy.

9/7/09

DOE anticipates having awarded one-half of all ARRA Smart Grid and energy-related funds to recipients.

9/22/09

DOE and Treasury announce that more than $1 billion in ARRA funds have been awarded to companies investing in renewable energy production.

10/13/09

DOE announces new steps to enforce energy and efficiency standards for appliances. These steps are expected to save Americans $250 billion to $300 billion over the next 30 years.

7/1/10

All ARRA funds to be awarded.

9/30/11

ARRA-funded DOE loan guarantee program for renewable energy extended to this date.

10/10/09

Deadline for recipients of federal stimulus funding, including states, to submit second report to federal government. 

12/31/12

End date for in-service production tax credit (PTC) extension for wind facilities (originally 1/1/10).

12/31/13

End date for in-service PTC extension for geothermal, biomass, hydropower, landfill gas, waste-to-energy, and marine facilities (originally 1/1/11).