The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity is to provide guidance to eligible entities (electric grid operators, electricity storage operators, electricity generators, transmission owners or operators, distribution provider and fuel suppliers or other entities determined by the DOE) for preparation of subgrant applications to be submitted to the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) in response to Section 40101(d) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). 

Under this Program, the Department of Energy (DOE) provides grants to States to improve the resilience of their electric grid against disruptive events.  A disruptive event, as defined by the Program, is “an event in which operations of the electric grid are disrupted, preventively shut off, or cannot operate safely due to extreme weather, wildfire, or a natural disaster.”

The primary goals of the Program are to demonstrate measurable improvements in energy resilience, with a focus to necessary and supporting grid modernization investments in rural, underserved and disadvantaged communities, to invest in modernized grid infrastructure and to create good-paying jobs.

The KCC’s allocation from the DOE totals $13,313,126 for fiscal years 2022 and 2023. The allocation for each fiscal year thereafter, for the next three fiscal years, is expected to be approximately $6,647,000.

The KCC is now seeking applications from eligible entities. Links to the Fund Application Guidance, an informational webinar, and reference materials can be found below.

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application Resources:

• 40101(d) Subaward Application Instructions
• Kansas Infrastructure Hub – Submittable Portal
• 40101(d) Fund Application Guidance
• DOE FAQs
• Budget Form SF-424 and Budget Justification
• Eligible Entity Status Request Form
• Project Management Plan/Quarterly Progress Report and Instructions
• Annual Program Metrics and Impact Report and Instructions
• Documentation requirements for DOE finding of adequacy
• Data Source Used by DOE for Qualifying Small Utility Status
• NEPA Environmental Questionnaire
• Grid Resilience Formula Grant FAQs

Additional Information:

• View Notice of Award
• View Kansas Program Narrative
• Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
• U.S. DOE Grid Resilience Formula Grant Program
• Allocation of Grant Funds to States and Indian Tribes
• View Public Hearing Notice
• View Public Hearing Slides

Background

Kansas has been awarded a $13.3 million grant to modernize electrical grid infrastructure. The investment from the U.S. Department of Energy is provided through its Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants program. 

These funds, which will be administered by the Kansas Corporation Commission, will be used to promote projects that strengthen and modernize the power grid against natural disasters while advancing projects that attract, train, and retain a skilled Kansas workforce. 

Kansas was one of nine states and three tribal nations to receive a combined total of $207.6 million in grants in this third round of funding.