Entergy Texas is the recipient of nearly $54 million in federal funding which will be used to improve the grid’s resilience in Port Arthur’s Pear Ridge, Kolbs, and Lakeview neighborhoods.
The money is going towards a resiliency project that will lessen the impact of extreme weather events in the future. Upon completion, the project is expected to reduce the duration of outages, restoration costs, utility infrastructure damage, and speed up recovery efforts after storms.
The Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program is the source of funding. It was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The program helps projects aimed at making the grid more flexible and resilient against the effects of climate change and extreme weather events.
The award will match Entergy Texas’ investment towards the project with $53.75 million dollars in federal funding.
Entergy Texas has developed a multi-phased community benefits plan, as part of the project, which includes a Community Benefits Working Group. The group will build on the company’s existing programs to deliver added benefits to the Port Arthur community, including labor engagement, education and job training, and low-income family financial services.
“As a city that has faced the repeated devastation of extreme weather, this project comes at a crucial time for Port Arthur,” said Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie, in a statement. “This funding will provide a critical boost to our infrastructure, ensuring that our residents and businesses are better protected before, during, and after extreme weather events. We’re grateful to Entergy Texas and the Department of Energy for their continued support in making Port Arthur a stronger, more resilient place to live and work.”
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