The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the allocation of $473.6 million in fiscal year 2024 Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants. This funding will be distributed to 49 states, five territories, 254 Tribal Nations, and the District of Columbia as part of efforts to modernize the electric grid under the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda.
Supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these grants aim to strengthen America's power grid against wildfires, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters exacerbated by climate change. The funding is intended to ensure reliable electricity access for communities across the country.
"From remote and rural communities to urban centers, every pocket of America deserves a strong and reliable energy grid that can deploy clean, affordable power to homes and businesses," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. "The transformative investments in grid infrastructure from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda is helping protect our main streets and downtowns during extreme weather events while creating good-paying jobs in the process."
Since fiscal year 2022, DOE has awarded nearly $1.3 billion through this grant program with plans to distribute a total of $2.3 billion over five years. These funds are allocated based on factors such as population size, land area, probability and severity of disruptive events, and historical mitigation expenditures.
Among notable projects funded previously are:
- Citizen Potawatomi Nation: Nearly $1.7 million will be used for underground electrical service connections near tribal headquarters in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
- Colorado: A $700,000 federal fund will support a lithium-ion battery storage system installation in Estes Park.
- Kansas: Almost $5 million will replace aging power lines through Pioneer Electric Company.
- Michigan: About $500,000 will go towards rebuilding distribution lines with Alger Delta on the Kiva Line Rebuild Project.
These initiatives reflect ongoing efforts under the Justice40 Initiative which aims for 40% of certain federal investments' benefits to reach disadvantaged communities.
A complete list of allocations by state, tribe, and territory is available online along with details about future grants expected for FY 2025 Q2.
