Wisconsin electric cooperatives can now apply for the next round of the state’s Grid Resilience Program, with $7.2 million immediately available for projects designed to strengthen the electric grid against extreme weather, wildfires and other natural disasters.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin’s Office of Energy Innovation opened Round Two applications yesterday, October 15. Applications must be submitted through the PSC Grants System by 1:30 p.m. February 22, 2027.
The program is funded through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. An additional $9.7 million is conditionally allocated for the final two years of the program, bringing potential funding to approximately $16.9 million.
Following input from WECA and Eau Claire Energy, the PSC decided at least 75% of available grant funding will be reserved for small utilities. Under the program, a small utility is one that sells no more than 4 million megawatt-hours of electricity annually. Small utilities must provide matching funds equal to 50% of the grant award—or one-third of total eligible project costs—which may include cash or in-kind contributions.
The first funding round awarded approximately $8.5 million to 19 projects, and all electric cooperatives that submitted applications were approved.
Eligible projects are intended to modernize and harden Wisconsin’s electric grid, reduce the frequency and duration of outages, particularly in disadvantaged communities, and strengthen the workforce supporting grid resilience. Eligible applicants include distribution providers as well as transmission owners and operators, electric grid operators, electricity generators and storage operators.
The PSC will hold an application webinar Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. to review the application process. Advance registration is required. Application instructions, webinar registration and other program materials are available on the PSC Grid Resilience Program webpage.
WECA also held a members-only webinar this week to walk cooperatives through the funding opportunity and is updating its Grid Resilience Grant Program guidebook now that final program requirements are available. The revised guidebook, intended to help cooperatives develop competitive proposals, will be distributed to WECA members when completed.