Federal, state officials herald millions of dollars for rural electric distribution companies
Federal and state officials announced $14 million in Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant funding for electric distribution companies across Pennsylvania at an REA Energy Cooperative substation near Ebensburg. Gov. Josh Shapiro is also joining a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission challenge seeking reforms to prevent residential and business customers from bearing costs associated with hyperscale data centers.
Federal and state officials announced the final $14 million allocation available to Pennsylvania electric distribution companies through the U.S. Department of Energy's Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant Program. The announcement was made at an REA Energy Cooperative substation near Ebensburg, with DOE Under Secretary of Energy Kyle Haustveit outlining the funding as part of a final $1 billion nationwide distribution.
Separately, Gov. Josh Shapiro plans to join a challenge filed with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission seeking changes to PPL Electric Utilities' rate structure. The challenge is intended to protect residential and business customers from being charged for costs related to connecting and operating hyperscale data centers.