Section 40101(d) of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a Grid Resiliency Grant of up to $1.4 million yearly for five years for utility providers to improve the energy grid against disruptions and natural hazards.

Administered by the U.S. Department of Energy, Section 40101(d) grants under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be used for activities, technology, equipment and hardening measures reducing the likelihood and consequences of grid-disrupting events.

Delaware’s grant allocation is approximately $1.4 million annually for five years. State utilities will competitively submit applications to be awarded these funds from DNREC to improve grid resiliency.

To responsibly deploy funding in alignment with Delaware’s goals, the DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy (DCCE) has formed an advisory committee to make recommendations on the goals, objectives and metrics that support prioritization of resilience projects.

Projects must abide by the Justice40 Initiative and the Climate Action Plan, and address grid disruptions associated with natural hazards. Prioritization of the projects will be based on the provision of the greatest community benefit and associated funding.

Program Updates

July 1, 2024 – Tentative award announcement, following Committee proposal reviews

April 1, 2024 – Application period closed for Year 1 grant cycle

Jan. 1, 2024 – Application period opens for Year 1 grant cycle

Dec. 27, 2023 – Clearinghouse meeting to hear Year 2 funds for the grant

Dec. 12, 2023 – Public engagement meeting to announce the application process for utilities to the State

Nov. 28, 2023 – Public committee meeting to reconvene and establish next steps

Sept. 19, 2023 – Clearinghouse meeting to hear Year 1 funds for the grant

March 27, 2023 – Public committee meeting to incorporate public comment to the State application to DOE

March 7, 2023 – Public hearing to share the State application to DOE with public comment

Feb. 27, 2023 – Public committee meeting to establish the State goals, metrics, and objectives for grant spending

Feb. 1, 2023 – Public committee meeting to introduce and begin collaborating on the overall grant parameters

Project Goals

The Committee has identified a list of goals for spending and their associated objectives which the utilities aspire to meet in order to be awarded funding, based on the current needs in Delaware. Each objective has respective metrics by which they will be measured in their application.

Year 1 Grant Proposals Underway

Applications for Grid Resiliency Grants under Section 40101(d) of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law were accepted from Jan. 1 through March 31, 2024.

The proposals are now under review by the Committee. Reviews are tentatively expected to be completed by July 1, 2024, unless further information is required from the applicants. Negotiations may delay the award announcement.

Grants are available for up to four Delaware-based projects proposed by eligible entities. Projects must meet the purpose of enhancing grid resiliency, with priority given to projects that enhance energy justice.

The grants may not be used for electric generating facilities, large-scale battery storage facilities not used during disruptive events, or cybersecurity.

Larger utilities will be required to match 100% of the grant. Small utilities will be required to match 33.3% of the grant.

The Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy 40101(d) Committee will provide their assessment of the applications to the division for a final recommendation as to which projects should receive awards.

The division reserves the final approval to grant awardees based on the committee’s recommendations.

Any questions about project proposals should be sent to Heather Hubbard.

Approved Projects

Grid resiliency grant funding recipients will be listed on this page after final recommendations and approval from the Committee and DNREC.

Related Topics:  BIL, climate coastal energy, efficiency, energy, energy conservation, funding, grants, grid resilience, incentives, infrastructure