Public power utilities and communities in Minnesota are included among the recipients of $5.3 million of grant awards announced by the Minnesota Department of Commerce to improve the resilience of Minnesota’s electric grid against severe weather events, malicious physical attacks, and cyber threats.
The State Grid Resilience Grant Program is fully state-funded and administered by Commerce. It is part of a suite of 2023 legislative session initiatives to enhance the reliability, safety, and modernization of Minnesota’s energy infrastructure.
The grants, established through 2023 Chapter 60, Article 12, Section 72 of state legislation, provide up to $250,000 per project to municipal and cooperative electric utilities to strengthen their local distribution systems, increase capacity and reduce power outages.
In total, 28 applicants were selected to receive funding, including municipal utilities, electric cooperatives, the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA) and Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA). As of December, all 28 awardees have projects moving forward across Minnesota.
“This program demonstrates how state-led investments can make a real difference for communities,” said Commerce Commissioner Arnold. “By upgrading local power systems - often by undergrounding lines in areas vulnerable to storms - we’re helping ensure Minnesotans have reliable, resilient electricity for years to come.”
Many funded projects focus on undergrounding power lines in areas prone to storm damage, replacing aging infrastructure, increasing power capacity for development and improving local grid operations.
Public power utilities and communities that received grant awards were:
- Austin Utilities, 2024 Grid Resiliency – Cyber Security, $145,405.59
- Blooming Prairie Public Utilities, 3rd St SW URD Project, $126,555.95
- City of Anoka, Grid Resilience-Underground Primary, $177,194.24
- City of Granite Falls, Granite Falls Transformers, $250,000
- City of Hawley, Increasing Grid Resiliency/Strengthening Electrification, $100,000
- City of Newfolden, Grid Resilience Program, $250,000
- City of Roseau, Electric Overhead to Underground Grid Resilience Project, $250,000
- City of St. Charles, Project 7, $67,224.73
- Lanesboro Public Utilities, Electric Grid Resiliency Project, $250,000
- Madelia Municipal Light and Power, Grid Improvement, $161,971.83
- Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association, Grid Resilience Grants Program, $79,973
- New Ulm Public Utilities, New Ulm Center Substation Breaker #2417 Replacement, $100,000
- Rochester Public Utilities, Substation H-Frame Thermal PTZ Camera Installations, $100,000
- Virginia Department of Public Utilities, Switchgear Replacement Project, $177,194.24
