Environmental Project

Northern NM utilities receive funds to mitigate wildfire risks
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Two electric cooperatives that serve rural areas of northern New Mexico received a combined $26.7 million in federal funding to invest in grid infrastructure and help prevent wildfires.
The funding is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships, or GRIP, program. The DOE announced a total of $34.6 billion in GRIP funding for 58 projects across 44 states on Thursday. These dozens of projects are intended to improve grid reliability in the face of climate change.
Kit Carson Electric Cooperative received $15.4 million. It plans to deploy battery storage systems as well as microgrid capabilities at three locations that will allow the customers to access reliable, solar power. Kit Carson also hopes to prevent utility-ignited fires while avoiding impacts such as power outages to vulnerable communities.