The Grid Resiliency Grant, administered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, is designed to enhance the resilience of the electric grid by funding projects that improve infrastructure and system reliability. This grant program will support a variety of resilience measures aimed at increasing the capacity of the power grid to withstand and recover from disruptive events such as extreme weather and other hazards. The program seeks to prioritize public utilities and independent electric cooperatives that provide direct electricity service to residents, with a particular emphasis on serving rural communities as defined by U.S. Census parameters.

Funding for this program is available through a competitive grant process. Two types of entities are eligible to apply: general type subaward entities and small utility company type subaward entities. General type subaward entities can apply for grants of up to $2,083,815 but must provide a cost match of at least 100%. Small utility company subaward entities, defined as public utility companies with 20,000 or fewer customers, can apply for grants of up to $750,000 and must provide a cost match of at least $250,000.

Eligible entities for this grant include electric grid operators, electricity storage operators, electricity generators, transmission owners or operators, distribution providers, and fuel suppliers. The funding can be used for various resilience measures, including weatherization technologies, fire-resistant equipment, monitoring and control systems, utility pole management, and the relocation or upgrading of power lines. Additionally, investments in distributed energy resources, microgrids, battery storage, and adaptive protection technologies are eligible. Workforce development initiatives such as training, recruitment, retention, and reskilling of skilled workers necessary for grid resilience improvements may also qualify for funding.

The grant application process will begin with a letter of intent submission. Only applicants that receive approval after this initial step will be allowed to proceed with the full application. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce anticipates that the application process could begin as early as Fall 2024.