Washington, DC – As part of its efforts to improve the nation’s energy security and electricity reliability, today Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced nearly $38 million in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to improve state emergency preparedness plans and ensure quick recovery and restoration from any energy supply disruptions.  Funds will be used by state governments to hire or retrain staff and expand state-level capacities to address challenges to the country’s energy systems, including emergency situations such as blackouts, hurricanes, ice storms, and disruptions to heating supplies.
 
“Today’s awards provide crucial support to our state partners in modernizing the electrical grid and enhancing our energy security,” said Secretary Chu.  “Enhancing the states’ ability to quickly and effectively respond to energy disruptions is a critical element in meeting our nation’s energy goals.”   
 
States will use the funds to plan for energy supply disruption risks and vulnerabilities to lessen the devastating impact that such incidents can have on the economy and the health and safety of the public. Each state will be required to track energy emergencies to assess the restoration and recovery times of any supply disruptions; to train appropriate personnel on energy infrastructure and supply systems; and conduct and participate in state and regional energy emergency exercises to evaluate the effectiveness of their energy assurance plans.
 
The awards for energy assurance capabilities will also help states address cyber security concerns and prepare for the challenges of integrating smart grid technologies and renewable energy sources into the transmission network.  States are encouraged to coordinate and communicate best practices with one another, in order to build both state-level and regional resiliency.
 
The following grants are being awarded today:
 
  Awardees  Total Funding
  Alabama  $627,742  
  Alaska  $262,969  
  Arizona  $796,410  
  Arkansas  $461,990  
  California  $3,572,526  
  Colorado  $653,209  
  Connecticut  $521,250  
  Delaware  $280,109  
  District of  Columbia  $254,302  
  Florida  $1,881,676  
  Georgia  $1,088,694  
  Hawaii  $318,196  
  Idaho  $339,814  
  Illinois  $1,383,754  
  Indiana  $785,088  
  Iowa  $475,493  
  Kansas  $457,104  
  Kentucky  $591,715  
  Louisiana  $604,703  
  Maine  $320,789  
  Maryland  $716,898  
  Massachusetts  $796,207  
  Michigan  $1,117,842  
  Minnesota  $678,986  
  Mississippi  $469,626  
  Missouri  $742,406  
  Montana  $288,765  
  Nebraska  $363,635  
  Nevada  $438,573  
  New  Hampshire  $320,729  
  New  Jersey  $996,658  
  New  Mexico  $382,070  
  New  York  $1,988,289  
  North  Carolina  $1,046,182  
  North  Dakota  $258,858  
  Ohio  $1,253,864  
  Oklahoma  $534,197 
  Pennsylvania  $1,342,164  
  Puerto Rico  $562,794  
  Rhode  Island  $296,413  
  South  Carolina  $611,034  
  Tennessee  $770,233  
  Texas  $2,432,068  
  Utah  $451,075  
  Vermont  $257,003  
  Virginia  $912,836  
  Washington  $800,910  
  West  Virginia  $366,482  
  Wisconsin  $716,382  
  Wyoming  $248,874  
  
  Total  $37,839,586