NMPP Energy communities earn grid resiliency grants

Several communities served wholesale power by the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska were recently awarded grants to strengthen the reliability and resilience of their local electric systems.

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment announced the award of more than $15 million in grants through the agency’s Grid Resiliency Program, which received federal funds through the U.S. Department of Energy as part of a nationwide effort to modernize and secure the country’s energy infrastructure.

Awarded projects include replacing old power poles and transformers, improving substations, installing stronger and more efficient transmission lines, and using new technology to better monitor and manage the flow of electricity. Some projects will also move power lines underground to reduce the risk of outages. 
Each community receiving funding is also contributing matching dollars to cover the remaining project costs, showing a strong local commitment to building safer, more resilient energy systems for the future.

A list of communities affiliated with an NMPP Energy organization that were awarded grant funding includes:

Ansley, Neb. ($1,097,000)
Update distribution system from 2.4kV to 12.5kV grounded wye. Replace poles, transformers, overhead conductors and regulators. Add a primary feed from CPPD substation to provide a dedicated circuit into the community.

Central City, Neb. ($1,800,000)
Replace 34.5kV transmission line with 69kV transmission line. Perform upgrades to two substations, including transformers. New equipment includes 69kV power lines, new poles, new 69kV to 12kV transformers.

Cozad, Neb. ($838,919)
Replacement of power poles and construction of distribution tie lines to add redundancy. The project objective is to harden the system against severe weather incidents that could cause at-risk power poles to fail and customers to lose power.

Fairbury, Neb. ($855,049)
Replace existing 34.5kV line and install 1.5 miles of new, weather-resistant 34.5kV line. The new line is anticipated to address existing system susceptibilities, improve reliability, guarantee system redundancies, and reduce system losses by increasing the line's thermal and transfer capacity.

Nebraska City, Neb. ($1,419,708)
Replace switchgears and relays and incorporate substation into existing SCADA. Construction of climate-controlled enclosure for equipment. The objective is to enhance the resilience and reliability to reduce future outage durations.

Oxford, Neb. ($646,190)
Convert the remainder of the system to 12.5kV, replace switchgear breakers, install underground circuits, and construct a 12.5kV distribution line around the community.

Red Cloud, Neb. ($626,203)
New underground and overhead power lines will provide an upgraded circuit to 13.8Y/7.96kV. It will include a combination of conductors, new poles, and underground equipment, providing redundancy.

Falls City, Neb. ($548,524)
Upgrade existing 5kV infrastructure with a 13.8kV system to ensure the continuity of essential services, such as power supply to critical facilities. The project will install underground cabling, replace the 50-plus-year-old wooden structure with modern, resilient components, and implementation of advanced monitoring equipment.