Section 40101(d) of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the Grid Resilience Formula Grant Program, which will provide a total of $459 million each year for five years to States and Indian Tribes. The funds available under this program are intended to improve the resilience of the electric grid against disruptive events, such as reducing shut offs due to extreme weather or natural disaster. The Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) submitted an application for the State of Maine’s combined 2022 and 2023 funding allocations, for a total allocation of $4,364,534. It is currently anticipated that approximately $2.2 million will be allocated to the State of Maine in each of the remaining three program years. Maine tribes will also separately be allocated their own funding amount.
To receive the state formula allocation, the GEO submitted a program plan to DOE detailing the objectives, metrics, and criteria that will guide future funding decisions under the program. The GEO held two public events related to the planning and administration of Section 40101(d) funding. Public input was solicited on program objectives and metrics, and input received through public comment was considered in the preparation of the final plan submission to DOE. The program objectives aim to increase the resilience of the electric grid and Maine communities while increasing clean energy workforce opportunities and aligning with ongoing electric grid modernization and state policy climate goals.
In July 2023, the GEO received confirmation of the grant award from DOE. In the coming months, Maine will conduct a competitive solicitation process to identify projects that advance the program goals. This process will be in alignment with the program narrative submitted by the GEO to DOE, as well as state and federal procurement procedures.
Program Eligibility
As successful applicants and award recipients, states and tribes may make funds available as subawards to eligible entities such as electric grid operators, electricity storage operators, electricity generators, and transmission owners or operators. Applicable uses under the program include a range of resiliency measures, such as undergrounding of electrical equipment, utility pole management, hardening of powerlines, or the use or construction of DERs (distributed energy resources) for enhancing system adaptive capacity during disruptive events, including microgrids and battery storage subcomponents. The funds may not be used for cybersecurity, the construction of new electric generating facilities, or large-scale battery storage facilities that are not used for improving system adaptive capacity. In November 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) clarified that grant funds or cost match may not be used to purchase and install an emergency generator, and additionally specified that construction of new solar generation for microgrids is not an allowable cost.
How to Get Involved
The GEO held a virtual informational webinar on August 9, 2022 and a virtual public hearing on February 9, 2023. Meeting materials are posted below. Future opportunities related to this program will be posted in advance on this website, as well as on the State of Maine Public Calendar.
For more information or to sign up for the interested parties email list, please contact Allie Rand, Energy Analyst, at allie.rand@maine.gov.
- February 9, 2023 Public Hearing
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Date: February 9, 2023
Time: 12pm - 1pm
Location: Virtual meeting
- August 9, 2022 Webinar
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Date: August 9, 2022
Time: 12pm - 1pm
Location: Virtual meeting