LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) is accepting applications for its Grid Resiliency Grant Program. These grants will fund projects that result in a more resilient electrical grid.

The application period is open through June 21, 2024. Eligible applicants include:

· Electric grid operators
· Electricity storage operations
· Electricity generators
· Transmission owners and operators
· Electric distribution providers
· Fuel suppliers
· Energy operators

Nebraska’s Grid Resiliency Program is designed to help utilities improve the reliability of Nebraska’s electrical grid and to enhance the system’s ability to recover after disruptive events and attacks. Eligible projects will rebuild and restore infrastructure for transmission and distribution, protect existing equipment from weather-related events, support new adaptive protection technology, and provide recruitment and retention of energy technology workers.

The grant program is funded through the U.S. Department of Energy's Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid/Hazard Hardening Program through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. NDEE has $10.4 million available for years one and two of this five-year program. The agency expects to receive approximately $5 million each year for three additional years for a total award of $25.8 million.

The Grid Resiliency Grant applications, instructions, and other supporting documents can be found on NDEE’s website: /forms/publications-grants-forms/24-010.