In a significant stride towards enhancing the nation’s energy infrastructure, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) unveiled a plan today to allocate $34 million to two states and three tribal nations as part of the fifth phase of Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants. These grants, a part of President Biden’s overarching Investing in America agenda, are set to revitalize the electric grid, rendering it more adaptable to the challenges of climate-induced extreme weather and natural calamities. The distribution of funds is substantiated by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is being overseen by the DOE’s Grid Deployment Office. The central objective of these grants is twofold: to modernize the electric grid infrastructure while mitigating the impacts of climate-driven disruptions and to ensure the consistent reliability of the power sector.
U.S. Secretary of Energy, Jennifer M. Granholm, emphasized the significance of robust and dependable energy grids, stating, “Every community deserves a strong and reliable energy grid that can deploy cleaner, cheaper power to homes and businesses while keeping their lights on during extreme weather. Thanks to the transformative investments in grid infrastructure under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda we are strengthening America’s workforce and preparing the nation for a more resilient, clean energy future.”
This initiative is seamlessly aligned with President Biden’s ambitious clean energy agenda—a cornerstone of his economic blueprint, known as Bidenomics. The administration is committed to extending the benefits of affordable, dependable, and clean electricity to all communities, thereby fostering a more resilient and sustainable energy future. The latest round of funding is earmarked for two states and three tribal nations, culminating in a total disbursement of $34 million. Since May 2023, the DOE has disbursed over $407 million in Grid Resilience Formula Grants, showcasing the tangible impact of President Biden’s Investment in America Agenda.
The recipients of these grants include the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, who will employ the funding to strengthen critical tribal facilities against the repercussions of extreme weather events. The initiative also seeks to subdue the energy burden faced by low-income tribal members and disadvantaged communities. Similarly, the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians will utilize the grant to enhance local grid control by improving infrastructure and communications, subsequently fostering the growth of green jobs and STEM-based skills within the tribal workforce.
Missouri aims to harness the allocated funds to bolster resilience and reliability in small and underserved communities. In doing so, the state will incorporate demand-side management strategies to optimize the effectiveness of resilience investments, thus benefiting both employment and workforce development while shielding ratepayers from adverse impacts. Correspondingly, North Carolina’s share of $18.5 million will facilitate the deployment of grid modernization technologies to enhance resilience and flexibility. The focus remains on improving energy reliability and resilience in disadvantaged communities, which often bear the brunt of outages and high energy burdens.
The Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California, spanning Carson Colony, Dresslerville Colony, Woodfords Community, Stewart Community, and Washoe Ranches, is set to leverage $1.3 million to modernize grid infrastructure and invest in clean energy. Additionally, this initiative seeks to address energy challenges faced by low-income and disadvantaged tribal communities.
Foreseeing a span of five years, the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants are slated to dispense a total of $2.3 billion to states, territories, and federally recognized tribes, including Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Alaska Native Village Corporations. The allocation is contingent upon factors like population size, land area, the likelihood and severity of disruptive events, and historical mitigation expenditures. States, territories, and tribes will then earmark these funds for diverse projects, prioritizing endeavors that extend the most significant community benefit while affording clean, affordable, and reliable energy.
