The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) State Energy Office has announced the allocation of over $20 million for seven projects aimed at enhancing the resilience of the state’s electric grid. These projects are designed to modernize grid infrastructure to handle increased demand and withstand severe weather conditions, thereby ensuring a more reliable and cost-effective electricity supply for residents.
DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson emphasized the significance of these initiatives by stating, “We know that storms will keep coming with increasing frequency and intensity, and it’s critical that we build more resiliently to strengthen our electric grid. These investments will help improve the grid’s resilience and reduce outage times.”
The selected projects, chosen through a competitive application process, are varied in scope and focus:
1. The City of Wilson will upgrade outdated infrastructure to strengthen and weatherize its electric grid. This initiative, known as the Wilson Community Resilience project, aims to support both power distribution and high-speed internet access in rural areas across several counties including Wilson, Nash, and Edgecombe.
2. The Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation’s Foothills Resiliency project will enhance transmission and distribution systems to reduce outages caused by natural hazards by 35%, while also improving internet access in rural areas of Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin counties.
3. In Sampson County, the Four County Electric Membership Corporation will replace wooden utility poles with steel ones as part of the Strengthening Transmission Efficiency and Enhancing Lifespan (STEEL) project, thereby modernizing the area’s 55-year-old grid.
4. The Tideland Electric Membership Corporation’s Project Ocracoke Resiliency will install underground lines and relocate existing aerial lines to minimize power outages. This project will also bolster the island’s microgrid capacity.
5. The Fayetteville Public Works Commission will enhance its grid by replacing wooden poles with steel to minimize outages and maintain low electricity costs in Cumberland County.
6. Duke Energy will implement the Cherokee Area Resiliency and Environmental Safety (CAR-ES) project to modernize the grid in the Cherokee area, improving automation and reducing outage times.
7. Lastly, the City of Gastonia’s SURGE project will replace vulnerable infrastructure with durable alternatives, enhancing the grid’s self-healing capabilities.
Julie Woosley, Director of the DEQ State Energy Office, highlighted the broader impact of these projects: “While these projects will enhance our grid, they will also benefit our communities by providing access to resilient and reliable energy and workforce development opportunities.”
The funding, made possible by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will be part of ongoing annual allocations over the next three years to support the state’s electricity goals.
DEQ’s State Energy Office is committed to fostering a sustainable energy future for North Carolina. It provides expertise and support for clean energy initiatives and is a key resource for the state’s energy efficiency strategies.
