The DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy will conduct a public hearing on grid resilience formula grant funding from Section 40101(d) of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Docket #2023-MISC-CCE-0002). The public comment period is closed.

The public hearing is required by the U.S. Department of Energy to provide an opportunity for the public to comment on Delaware’s funding proposal under Section 40101(d) of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Section 40101(d) grants are to be used for “activities, technologies, equipment, and hardening measures to reduce the likelihood and consequences of disruptive events.” The Section 40101(d) allocation for Delaware is $1,467,476 annually for five years to be distributed to utilities for grid investments and requires a 15 percent state match.

States may use 5 percent of the annual allocation for administrative expenses or technical assistance.

States are required to set aside grant amounts for utilities with no more than 4,000,000 MWh in sales based on the number of customers served. The law requires a subgrantee match of 100 percent from large utilities; subgrantees that sell no more than 4,000,000 MWh in sales need only provide a match of one-third of the grant amount. These match requirements are separate from the 15 percent state match requirement.

A committee has been formed to review guidelines and define objectives, metrics, and criteria for use of the grant funding.

For additional information on the above matter and to review the documents describing the grant funding requirements, contact Heather Hubbard, Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy, at 100 W. Water St, Suite 10B, Dover, DE 19904, by phone at (302) 735-3352, or by email at heather.hubbard@delaware.gov.

The Department will accept public comment through the close of business on March 22, 2023. Comments will be accepted in written form via email to DNRECHearingComments@delaware.gov, using the online form at de.gov/dnreccomments, or by U.S. mail to the address on this page.

Related Information

Public Hearing Materials

DNREC Public Hearing Presentation

Program Narrative

The Program Narrative describes the provisional objectives, metrics and criteria that the state will use in distributing grant funds. Funding distribution methods, technical assistance budget and the equitable approach to future program years are also described. This document is required as part of the grant application to US DOE, as it delineates that strategic plan that the state will use in the first program year.

Meetings of the DNREC Section 40101(d) Committee

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Monday, February 27, 2023

Monday, March 27, 2023

Public Comments

Heather Contant, DEMEC Director of Government & Community Relations (March 20, 2023)