Event Calendar

WECA and Power System Engineering will be hosting a free webinar for cooperatives potentially interested in submitting a grant application to the state’s Grid Resiliency Program. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission recently authorized a second round of funding for this program that will be announced soon.

Eligible projects must improve the resilience of the electric grid against disruptive events and meet at least one of the state’s objectives. A partial list of eligible projects includes undergrounding overhead lines; deployment of monitoring and control technologies; reconductoring or replacement of old overhead lines; installation of adaptive protection technologies; hardening of power lines, facilities, substations, and other systems; and for technology used to mitigate against the risk of wildfires.

How much money is available?
$7.2 million with the potential of an additional $9.7 million for the final two years. Small utilities will receive at least 75% of the funding.

What are the match requirements?
One-third (1/3) of the eligible project cost.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
CEOs/general managers, finance managers, and key operations staff.

AGENDA
1. Welcome & What’s New

• Overview of the Grid Resiliency Program
• Key program changes
• WECA’s updated Guidebook 

2. Is the Opportunity a Fit for Your Cooperative?

• What resilience means in practical utility terms
• Eligible project types most relevant to Wisconsin co-ops
• Existing capital/work plan projects vs. projects developed specifically for the grant

3. Identifying Competitive Projects 

• Critical loads, difficult-to-serve areas, aging infrastructure, and system bottlenecks
• Comparing several potential projects and choosing the strongest candidate

4. Building the Narrative

• Translating an engineering project into a compelling grant narrative

5. Core Requirements and Expectations

• Project readiness, cost estimates, and match
• Procurement and construction schedule
• Environmental review, BABA, and other federal considerations
• Compliance requirements

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