The Department of Public Service announces an extension for public input on the distribution of federal “Grid Resilience” funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Public Service (PSD) today announces an extension to the deadline for written public input from stakeholders and ratepayers on the objectives and metrics by which the state should distribute federal funding provided under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
The IIJA creates funding opportunities open to Vermont to facilitate electric grid modernization for the purpose of preventing outages and enhancing the resilience of the electric grid. Section 40101(d) of the IIJA allows for states and Indian tribes to receive grants over a five-year period in an amount consistent with a pre-determined formula—approximately $3 million per year for Vermont—for uses that meet certain criteria.
The US Department of Energy recently extended the deadline for states to apply for this funding until March 2023. The PSD comment period has been extended to September 23, 2022, with the intent to apply for the funds well ahead of the deadline.
Activities supported via this proposal must demonstrate measurable improvements in resilience and weather-related risk mitigation for the grid. The U.S. Department of Energy, which oversees the IIJA, requires grant applications that include criteria on which projects are selected for funding, and where “priority will be given to projects that will generate the greatest community economic benefit (whether rural or urban) in reducing the likelihood and consequences of disruptive events.”[1] In addition to these criteria, the Department seeks input from Vermonters on other potential criteria that may be used to distribute the funds.
Examples of projects permitted for funding under the IIJA include utility pole management; hardening of power lines, facilities, substations, and of other systems; undergrounding of electrical equipment; replacement of old overhead conductors and underground cables; and use or construction of distributed energy resources for enhancing system adaptive capacity during disruptive events, including microgrids and battery-storage subcomponents.
The PSD convened and recorded the public hearing on September 7, 2022, which included a presentation on the Section 401010(d) application process and information request. Individuals interested in providing written comments on PSD’s proposed objectives, metrics and criteria may be submit them by email to: [email protected] by September 23, 2022.
The public hearing recording and other information may be found on the PSD’s Infrastrure Investment and Jobs Act – Grid Resilience web page (https://publicservice.vermont.gov/content/infrastructure-investment-and-jobs-act-grid-resiliency ).
Montpelier, VT – Vermont Department of Public Service 9.9.2022
