Local Legislators Announce Over $6.3 Million in Funding to Strengthen Rural Electric Grid

HARRISBURG - Over $6.3 million in grants to improve electric grid reliability have been awarded to local electric distribution companies through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) 2024 Pennsylvania Grid Resilience Grants (PA GRG) program, according to Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23) and Rep. Joe Hamm (R-84)

"Outages caused by disruptions to the electric grid can have a disastrous impact, especially in rural areas," Yaw said. "Our constituents depend on reliable and efficient energy to power their homes, businesses and day-to-day lives. I'm pleased to see this significant investment in helping our local electric companies keep the lights on at an affordable cost."

"Protecting and enhancing our electric grid reliability is one of my top priorities as a State Representative," Hamm said. "We must make sure the electric supply is always accessible and available for residential, commercial and industrial users so Pennsylvania can reach its full potential as an economic powerhouse. I congratulate Sullivan County Rural Electric Cooperative, Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative and Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative for receiving this funding."

Grants totaling $6,377,200 were awarded to the following electric distribution companies in Lycoming and Sullivan Counties.

• Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative - $2,145,000 for the installation of advanced satellite imagery and machine learning technology to provide comprehensive visibility of 2,800 miles of power lines. Additionally, over 50 smart grid devices will be implemented to increase control and visibility.

• Sullivan County Rural Electric Cooperative - $3,300,000 to relocate and future-proof the electric substation by upgrading its capacity, adding weatherization, and smart grid technology.

• Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative- $932,200 for the installation of smart grid technology and substation hardening to improve reliability and resilience. The project will give system operators a real-time, accurate visualization of the entire distribution grid remotely to troubleshoot and prevent system issues.

The PA GRG Program is funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Grid Resilience State/Tribal Formula Grant Program. This funding is available for eligible resilience measures intended to mitigate the impact of electric grid disruptive events.

For more state-related news and information, constituents can visit Senator Yaw's website at www.SenatorGeneYaw.com or Rep. Hamm's website at www.RepJoeHamm.com.

CONTACT:
Elizabeth Weitzel (Sen. Yaw)
717-787-3280

Erik Houser (Rep. Hamm)
570-546-2084

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