The US Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $167.7 million to the eighth cohort of a grant aimed at protecting power transmission systems from natural disasters, including 20 tribal nations and 11 states.
Two territories make up the latest group of recipients of Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants, a five-year program that allocated $2.3 billion to improve the reliability of power grids against disruptions such as extreme weather and wildfires. More than $748 million from the fund has now been awarded to 48 states, 49 tribal entities and three territories, “providing clean electricity, lowering energy costs and keeping the lights on for millions of Americans across the country.” , the DOE said in a press release Thursday.
Projects that have been selected for grants focus on improving network infrastructure and maintaining a skilled workforce.
Florida got the biggest amount in the latest release with $30,375,083. “Florida will strengthen labor standards and protections for the workforce responsible for implementing grid reliability and resiliency projects,” the announcement said. “The funds will also be used to reduce the energy burden and costs experienced by customers in disadvantaged communities due to inadequate electricity grid infrastructure.”
Georgia has allocated $17,336,845, which the state will distribute for projects aimed at “modernizing grid infrastructure and ensuring that the benefits of these funds are distributed equitably, particularly to communities that are most susceptible to power outages,” as stated in a fact sheet on the DOE Web site. The Georgia allocation would also be used to “strengthen and increase the workforce in Georgia that is responsible for grid reliability and resiliency,” the fact sheet says.
Colorado has the third highest allocation in the latest tranche, while the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation have been allocated the largest amount among tribal recipients at $4,311,793.
The two territories named among the latest cohort are American Samoa and the US Virgin Islands. The Virgin Islands Office of Energy has been awarded $2,142,136 to “implement sustainable solutions by developing a skilled workforce in the Virgin Islands that is equipped to operate and maintain various modernization and resiliency efforts of the network,” the DOE said. “The funds will be used to increase energy resilience closer to the point of demand by increasing distributed energy resources managed by utilities in order to diversify resilience-enhancing methods, particularly at vulnerable ends of the grid distribution”.
“Over the next five years, the Resilience Network State Grants and Tribal Formula will distribute a total of $2.3 billion to states, territories and tribes, including Alaska Native Regional Corporations and of Alaska Native peoples, based on a formula that includes factors such as population size, land area, likelihood and severity of disruptive events, and a locality’s historical expenditures on mitigation efforts,” said the press release. “States, territories and tribes will then award these funds to eligible entities to complete a diverse set of projects, prioritizing efforts that generate the greatest community benefit while providing clean, affordable and reliable energy.”
Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm said in a statement, “A modern and reliable grid is a critical feature for expanding access to and use of clean energy sources.”
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is providing states and tribes with historic funds to prepare for a more resilient clean energy future that delivers more local jobs and ensures the lights stay on fires in the face of extreme weather events,” the country said. “Investing in America” is the general name for policies adopted by President Joe Biden’s administration to increase US self-sufficiency in critical sectors such as clean energy rather than reliance on imports.
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