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The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s State Energy Office has selected seven projects to receive more than $20 million to improve North Carolina’s electric grid. The selected projects will update grid infrastructure to increase load capacity and resilience against severe weather, resulting in a more affordable and reliable electricity supply for North Carolinians, noted the announcement of the funding.

One of the seven projects is the Tideland Electric Membership Corporation’s Project Ocracoke Resiliency. The project aims to reduce power outage time by installing underground electrical lines and equipment and relocating aerial lines to less disrupted areas. The project will also support Ocracoke’s existing microgrid to further increase resiliency and reliability.

The remaining six projects selected go to the City of Wilson, Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation, Four County Electric Membership Corporation, Fayetteville Public Works Commission, Duke Energy’s Cherokee Area Resiliency and Environmental Safety project and City of Gastonia’s Strategic Upgrades for Resilient Grid Enhancements project.

Authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these funds are provided by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program. Over the next three years, the state anticipates receiving annual funding to improve the grid.

This program will help achieve the state’s goal of delivering reliable electricity at an affordable cost to residents, stated the announcement.

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