The U.S. Department of Energy announced that the second cohort for the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants of more than $77 million has been chosen.
This cohort consists of seven states, three Tribal nations and the District of Columbia, according to a June 16 news release. With total funding exceeding $77 million, these grants are made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“As climate change threats intensify and we add more renewable energy to our power system, it is critical that the American people have a safe and resilient electric grid,” Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in the release. "Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the Department is announcing a stream of investments to assist states and Tribes in modernizing the nation’s transmission system and preparing the U.S. for its clean energy future."
The primary objective of these grants is to enhance the electric grid's resilience by mitigating the effects of severe weather events and natural disasters, while simultaneously maintaining a reliable power sector, the release reported.
These grants will distribute $2.3 billion over the next five years to the recipients, based on "a formula that includes factors such as population size, land area, probability and severity of disruptive events and a locality's historical expenditures on mitigation efforts," the release said. These funds will be distributed by the states, territories or Tribes to complete projects which will benefit the community while providing clean, affordable and reliable energy.
Those receiving funding during this round are the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, the Mohegan Tribe, Nevada, Pennsylvania, the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians and Wisconsin, according to the release.
"I am proud to have worked with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to — along with fixing our roads, repairing our bridges and expanding access to high-speed internet — invest in a resilient energy grid," U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said in the release. "This investment will help Wisconsin communities modernize and strengthen our grid, creating local jobs and be better prepared for the next extreme weather event."
