Public Hearing process for 40101(d) Formula Grant Funding: Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid

Outlined in Section 40101 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, aka the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) is a funding opportunity is to support the Biden Administration’s and Congress’ objectives to:

  • Demonstrate measurable improvements in energy resilience to all hazards in the United States, and mitigate climate-related risk.
  • Ensuring that AT LEAST 40% of the resulting benefits from 40101(d) investments are delivered to Disadvantaged Communities. 
  • Invest in modernized grid infrastructure that can enable consumer access to lower-cost energy and accommodate increased. electrification, increased penetrations of variable renewable electricity and distributed energy resources, and other evolving system needs over the coming decades.
  • Invest in decarbonization solutions that help Rhode Island achieve its ambitious goals of 100% Renewable Electricity by 2033 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide by 2050.

The Office of Energy Resources is soliciting public comment on this funding opportunity for Rhode Island.

Public hearings are scheduled:

Monday, February 20, from 12:00-1:00pm

Zoom Link

Monday, February 27, from 5-6 p.m.

Zoom Link

Both meetings are to be held in the Department of Administration building conference room 2A. Remote participation will be available via Zoom.

Public comments were due by 5:00 PM on Monday, March 6, 2023.

If communication assistance (readers/interpreters/captions) is needed, or any other accommodation to ensure equal participation, please contact Abigail Hasenfus of the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources at abigail.hasenfus@energy.ri.gov at least three (3) business days prior to the hearing so arrangements can be made to provide such assistance.