Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has been awarded a $40.2 million federal grant to help modernize Western Washington’s electric transmission system and improve reliability for customers across the region.
The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Energy’s SPARK program, which supports projects aimed at strengthening the nation’s power grid. PSE will match the grant with another $40.2 million, bringing the total investment for the project, known as Project PULSE, to about $80.4 million.
PSE said the project is designed to increase the “capacity, reliability, and resilience” of its transmission system as electricity demand continues to grow across the Puget Sound region.
The upgrades are expected to benefit more than 153,000 customers, including key facilities such as Naval Base Kitsap and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
The project includes:
- Upgrading approximately 23 miles of existing transmission lines in King and Kitsap counties
- Improving transmission capacity and reliability in South Kitsap and across the Kitsap Peninsula
- Installing 178 monitoring sensors along 323 miles of transmission lines in six Western Washington counties to provide real-time data on system conditions
PSE estimates more than $21 million of the project investment will be directed toward work in Kitsap County.
“This project will help us deliver more reliable power while moving more electricity across the transmission lines we already have,” said Mary Kipp, president and CEO of Puget Sound Energy. “We’re adding more capacity and flexibility to the grid while avoiding costly infrastructure upgrades.”
Project PULSE is expected to be completed between 2027 and 2031, pending finalization of the federal grant agreement. PSE said it will continue working with local communities, governments, and other stakeholders as the project moves forward.
To learn more, visit the Department of Energy’s press release.
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