WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, as well as Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Val Hoyle announced Wednesday that Oregon’s Energy Department has secured $10.9 million and four Tribes with members in the state have earned a combined $1.16 million in federal investment to modernize the electric grid and reduce the impacts of extreme weather while also ensuring power sector reliability.
The four Tribes securing the federal funds are the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Burns Paiute and Nez Perce.
“Oregon families, small businesses, schools, hospitals and more rely on a dependable energy grid, said Wyden, who also has introduced the Grid Resilience Improvement through Dedicated (GRID) Assistance Act . “These fresh federal investments in grid resilience are incredibly timely after this year’s state record of nearly 2 million acres burned by wildfires. I’m gratified these resources are heading to these Tribes along with the state Energy Department, and will keep battling for similar funds for communities throughout the state.”…