WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) announced new bipartisan legislation to strengthen the resiliency of power grids across the country. The senators' Preventing Power Outages Act would reauthorize two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant programs that help states and utilities invest in modernizing their grid infrastructure to ensure the power stays on even in the face of extreme weather and natural disasters. The bill would also update these programs to ensure that sufficient funding goes to states whose grids are least reliable and require the most investment.
“Thousands of Michigan households lost power for weeks on end after the catastrophic ice storm that recently hit Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, and our dedicated lineman are still working to fully restore power in some communities. This devastating storm was just one of many severe weather events in recent years that significantly disrupted our electrical grid and, as a result, risked the safety of Michiganders. It's clear that our power infrastructure is in dire need of upgrades in order to keep our residents safe, keep energy costs down, and meet the growing demands of our communities,” said Senator Peters. “I'm leading this bipartisan bill to help ensure Michigan can access the federal resources we need to strengthen our power grid to reduce outages, improve reliability, and deliver affordable power to every Michigan household.”
“I was at an event this week where President Trump emphasized the need for growth and power generation to fuel our future economy. He specifically spoke of the problems with our grid,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This is one more step in addressing those problems that President Trump was speaking of.”
Many states, including Michigan and Louisiana, are in need of long-term, strategic investment to improve the resiliency of their grid infrastructure and deliver reliable power to households and businesses. However, without federal assistance, grid repair costs often ultimately fall to the very consumers that are being impacted by rising energy rates, poor reliability, and long service restoration times.
The Preventing Power Outages Act would reauthorize and update DOE’s Grid Resilience State/Tribal Formula Grants Program and Grid Resilience Utility and Industry Grants Program – which have spurred historic investment in much-needed grid improvements in recent years but are set to expire in 2026. Funding from these programs can be used for undergrounding electrical equipment, utility pole management, relocating power lines, and more. It can also be used to acquire innovative technologies including weatherization equipment, fire-resistant technologies, and fire prevention systems. Without reauthorization, states that require significant grid upgrades could go without the necessary investments to address ongoing challenges. The senators' legislation aims to protect these critical federal resources and ensure Americans across the country have access to safe, reliable, and affordable power.
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