Energy Department Announces Funding to Improve Grid Resiliency and Climate Preparedness

WASHINGTON – The Energy Department’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability announced that it is making up to $3.5 million in funding available for communities to deploy smart grid tools and technologies to advance climate preparedness and resiliency of the electricity delivery infrastructure. This Funding Opportunity supports the goals of other initiatives by the Administration to prepare the Nation for the impacts of climate change by providing funding to local and tribal governments. Earlier this week, the Climate Action Champions announcement  recognized local climate leaders already pursuing ambitious climate action. Eligible communities across the country, including the Climate Action Champions, are encouraged to apply for this Funding Opportunity.  

“With the economic and personal losses from electricity outages due to severe weather becoming greater in recent years, building more resiliency into the grid has taken on a greater sense of urgency,” said Assistant Secretary for Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability Patricia Hoffman. “Deploying tools and technologies that can help prevent outages, reduce storm impacts, and restore service faster will help communities better prepare for the effects of a changing climate.”

The Resilient Electricity Delivery Infrastructure Initiative Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is focused on local and tribal governments that experienced a Presidentially Declared Major Disaster over the past 30 years. The awards will help communities deploy smart grid tools and technologies that will help decision makers and resource managers improve recovery of electricity delivery services in their communities. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with local electric utilities and DOE’s National Laboratories for technical assistance using  technologies and tools developed at the Labs.

This FOA also supports a larger DOE initiative to identify and showcase local and tribal governments that have proven to be leaders by pursuing opportunities to advance the Administration’s efforts to enhance climate resilience.

The Resilient Electricity Delivery Infrastructure FOA, which is available at Grants.gov and FedConnect.net, provides additional information, including cost-sharing requirements for government-industry cooperation. The deadline for submitting applications is March 4, 2015. 

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