U.S. Dept. Of Energy Awards Washington $23.4 Million To Strengthen and Modernize Critical Electric Infrastructure
Washington state has received a $23.4 million Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy in order to modernize the electric grid to hopefully reduce the impacts of extreme weather and natural disasters.
According to the Washington State Department of Commerce, the federal funding for energy resilience will enhance and expand ongoing current grid modernization and resilience efforts throughout the state. For example, working directly with rural and typical end-of-the-line customers to develop resilience plans and collaborating with communities and utilities on building resilient and renewable infrastructure for essential services.
“This is a significant opportunity to supplement our state investments in building a robust, resilient electric grid that supports our long-term vision for clean, affordable and reliable electricity – the foundation for economic growth and job creation that strengthens our communities and keeps Washington globally competitive. It shows once again that we are maximizing the federal funding being made available by the Biden-Harris Administration to invest in the country’s infrastructure,” said Washington State Department of Commerce Director Mike Fong.
Goals include:
- Reducing the frequency, duration and impact of outages while enhancing resiliency in historically disadvantaged communities.
- Strengthening prosperity by expanding well-paying, safe clean energy jobs accessible to all workers and ensuring investments have a positive effect on quality job creation and equitable economic development.
- Building a community of practice and maximizing project scalability by identifying pathways for scaling innovations.
“The Grid Resilience Formula Grants will enable communities in Washington to protect households and businesses from blackouts or power shutdowns during extreme weather,” said Maria Robinson, Director, Grid Deployment Office, U.S. Department of Energy. “Projects selected through this program will benefit communities by creating good-paying jobs to deliver clean, affordable, and reliable energy across the country.”
“An innovative, reliable, and efficient power grid is vital to Washington’s continued economic growth and for community resilience especially in disadvantaged areas,” said U.S. Rep. Strickland, Co-Lead of the bipartisan Grid Innovation Caucus. “The funding announced today will invest in our energy grid, support good-paying jobs, and means a cleaner, more energy-efficient future.”