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Commission keeps rural focus and raises consortium caps for energy startup grants
Summary
The commission approved scoping for a rural‑targeted Energy Start‑Up program (docket 97‑14‑FG‑20‑24), retained disadvantaged community prioritization, doubled maximum awards for multi‑applicant consortia and set an updated program budget of $1,032,572.
The Public Service Commission approved scope refinements for the energy efficiency and conservation block grant program, referred to in the meeting as the Bridal Energy Start Up Program (RESP) (docket 97‑14‑FG‑20‑24), retaining a rural focus and adopting a modification to allow larger awards for consortia of two or more communities.
Commissioner Nieto led the discussion and said the program remains targeted at rural units of government and disadvantaged communities as defined under Justice40 guidance. He described the program as responding to DOE charges to deliver benefits to underserved communities and noted the use of DOE blueprints to define eligible activities. "We have an opportunity to establish a grant round going forward for over $1,032,000 for rural communities in Wisconsin," he said.
Why this matters: The program directs federal energy‑efficiency grant dollars to small rural communities and disadvantaged areas and modifies award caps to encourage consortium applications, potentially enabling larger multi‑community projects.
Key decisions: Commissioners retained the rural‑area definition and the disadvantaged community priority. They agreed to continue using DOE blueprint activities for eligible projects. The commission approved increasing maximum grant requests for implementation projects under activity 3 to $125,000 for individual applicants and doubling grant caps for two‑or‑more community consortia (for example, a $75,000 limit under activities 1 and 2 would become $150,000 for a two‑community consortium; activity 3 would double to $250,000 for consortia). The commission also set the program budget at the updated available funds amount of $1,032,572 and approved making all available funding eligible for award in the round.
The motion to approve the scope for the Bridal Energy Start Up Program, with the consortium cap modification, was offered and adopted by voice vote.
Next steps: Staff will proceed to develop solicitation materials consistent with the commission’s scope and the revised funding and award limits.
