SLVREC seeking grant funds

San Luis Valley REC has been strategically leveraging resources through a partnership with Aerinet Solutions Corporation to maximize the probability of winning grant funds. Aerinet specializes in electric cooperative grant services in Colorado and across the nation.
The grant projects REC is seeking have been prioritized into four focus areas: affordability, reliability, resiliency and electrification.
To-date REC has submitted $8.5 million in requests for funds specifically for solar facilities, targeting the number one focus area— affordability. These have included Department of Energy (DOE) Energy for Rural and Remote Areas (ERRA), USDA PACE (Powering Affordable Clean Energy), USDA New ERA (Empowering Rural America) and Congressional Direct Spending (CDS) grants; all of which were unsuccessful.
Even though no grant funds have been received at this time, REC still plans to break ground on the one-megawatt solar project at the Moffat substation by the end of the year. The construction agreement has been awarded to AgriPower Solar.
Under the number two priority area— reliability — REC is leading efforts to pursue over $250 million in  funding for a consortium of 19 transmission and generation cooperatives across eight states. The GRIP (Grid Resiliency and Innovative Partnerships) grant funds would focus on projects associated with electrical system hardening, resiliency, efficiency, technologies, data communication for utility and much more.
For REC this would include $23 million toward substation hardening, transmission hardening, Baca underground cable, bird diverters, Zapata tree wire and meter data management. REC is eagerly awaiting results on this grant.
Resiliency (microgrids) is the third priority focus area. Colorado DOLA Microgrids for Community Resiliency (MCR) and DOE ERRA grants were pursued but REC was not invited/encouraged to apply. REC recently applied for a Colorado DOLA MCR Planning Grant for a microgrid feasibility study; results of this grant are still pending.
Fourth priority, electrification focuses on the better, more efficient use of electricity and has been primarily covered by Tri-State’s Electrify and Save program.  Tri-State and its members have secured $75 million in loans for rural energy efficiency efforts, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP).
SLVREC will continue to actively explore opportunities as they arise and fit the areas of focus, working to reduce the cost of improving lives in the San Luis Valley.