Mon Power Selected by U.S. Department of Energy for Reliability Project Grant
May 6, 2024
| Bipartisan Infrastructure Law On Nov. 15, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) into law. Also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, it is the largest long-term investment in infrastructure and economy in our nation’s history. It provides $550 billion over fiscal years 2022 through 2026 in new Federal investment in infrastructure, including roads, bridges, mass transit, water infrastructure, resilience and broadband. |
Mon Power has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to begin award negotiations for up to $5 million in federal funding for a project that will boost electric reliability for customers in parts of rural West Virginia. The funding is part of the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“We’re grateful for the opportunity provided by the Department of Energy to apply for funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Jim Myers, President, West Virginia Operations. “Their commitment to bolstering our nation’s infrastructure is evident, and through initiatives like the Energy Improvements and Rural Areas Program, we’re excited to translate that support into tangible benefits for our customers. This program will not only modernize our infrastructure but also strengthen the backbone of our nation’s energy system, ensuring reliability and resilience for years to come.”
The funding would be applied to help rebuild more than 23 miles of power lines in three central West Virginia counties, and to connect a two-mile tie line with a substation in Grant County, resulting in enhanced reliability for more than 3,000 customers. The work would enable Mon Power and Potomac Edison to restore service to West Virginia customers faster by connecting them to adjacent circuits, providing those customers with a backup power feed while repairs are made during an outage.
Submitted in 2023, our proposal was selected as one of 19 community-led projects across 12 states and 13 tribal nations and communities to receive more than $78 million to develop and deploy sustainable clean energy solutions or expand access to reliable and affordable energy in rural and remote communities across the country.
If the funding is approved, we would expect construction on the project to start in 2025. Company representatives have engaged with more than 560 city, county, state and nonprofit agencies about the proposal over the past year, providing updates and incorporating community feedback into Mon Power’s plans. We also plan to partner with community-based organizations, labor unions and educational institutions in the affected counties to address workforce disparity gaps for historically under-resourced communities.