Arkansas launches $10 million grant program to enhance electrical grid
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas electrical grid is about to get stronger.
The Department of Finance and Administration announced Tuesday that it was now accepting proposals for the 2024 Grid Enhancement Grant funding. The money will come from a $10 million allocation to utilities and related companies to prevent electrical outages and enhance the performance of the state power grid.
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Officials said an additional $5 million in funding is expected later in the year.
Grants are available to small and large utilities, electric grid operators, electricity storage operators, electricity generators, transmission owners or operators, distribution providers and fuel suppliers.
The DFA received the money from the U.S. Department of Energy under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The act’s Grid Enhancement Grant program seeks to strengthen and modernize America’s power grid in response to natural disasters.
“Grid funding will allow utility providers and others to supplement investments to increase the certainty and reliability of services at lower costs to the citizens,” Arkansas Infrastructure Coordinator Becky Keogh said. “Providing funding to rural portions of the state is especially important to ensure we are prepared in every area if the state faces a natural disaster.”
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The proposal deadline is July 19, 2024. Instructions, supporting guidance and the related application may be found at DFA.Arkansas.gov.
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