Preventing Outages & Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid (IIJA Section 40101(d))

Grid Resilience Formula Grant Program Overview

Under Section 40101(d) Formula Grant Program of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the U.S. Department of Energy provided grants to many states (including U.S. territories) and Indian Tribes to improve the resilience of their electric grids. States and Indian Tribes may further allocate funds to “eligible entities”, as defined by Section 40101(d). These grants offer a unique opportunity to advance the capabilities of states and Indian Tribes, as well as their communities, to address current and future resilience needs.

Eligible Entities

• Electric grid operators
• Electricity storage operators
• Electricity generators
• Transmission owners or operators
• Distribution providers
• Fuel suppliers

Eligible Resilience Measures

• Weatherization technologies and equipment
• Fire-resistant technologies and fire prevention systems
• Monitoring and control technologies
• Undergrounding electrical equipment
• Utility pole management
• Relocating power lines or reconductoring power lines with low-sag, advanced conductors
• Vegetation and fuel-load management
• Constructing distributed energy resources to enhance a system's adaptive capacity during disruptive events, including microgrids and battery-storage subcomponents
• Adaptive protection technologies
• Advanced modeling technologies
• Hardening power lines, facilities, substations, and other systems
• Replacing old overhead conductors and underground cables

Resilience Measures Not Allowed

• Constructing a new electric generating facility
• Installing generators
• Large scale battery-storage facilities that are not used for enhancing a system's adaptive capacity during disruptive events
• Cybersecurity 

Timeline

Awardee Obligations

• Must sign a Cost Match Commitment Letter
• Must sign agreement with GOE
• Must adhere to federal regulations, such as: National Environment Protection Act (NEPA), Build America Buy America (BABA), and Davis-Bacon
• Must provide monthly progress updates via phone and email with program manager as needed
• Must report impacts addressing potential energy and cost savings
• Must provide documentation of project expenditures (i.e. invoices and proof of payment)
• Must submit payment request within 30 days of completing the project/activity
• Must complete one-year follow-up survey on continued impacts of implemented project/activity

GOE Contact

• GOEgrants@energy.nv.gov

Application Documents

• Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
• Application (required)
• Budget Justification (required)
• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (required)
• Environmental Questionnaire - NEPA (required)
• Build America, Buy America Act Waiver Request Form (if applicable)
• Cost Match Commitment Letter
• Assurances
• Davis Bacon Act Fact Sheet
• GOE NOFO Q&A

Helpful Documents and Links

• Administrative and Legal Requirements Document (ALRD)
• ALRD Appendix A - Statement of Project Objectives
• Workplan Template
• UEI Registration
• Nevada Vender Number Registration
• Program Narrative
• Foreign Work Guidance
• 2 CFR 200.318
• FAQs