MADISON – Today, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC or Commission) announced awards for Wisconsin’s Refueling Readiness Grant Program. The Commission voted 3-0 to award $277, 966 for 15 projects to foster fueling infrastructure resilience and create Fueling Points of Distribution or Designated Disaster Fueling Facilities which will stay open in long-term power outages or declared emergencies. The Commission approved all applications that were received.
“It is important that we bolster local networks of critical fueling facilities that can stay open during an emergency,” said PSC Chairperson Rebecca Cameron Valcq. “These grants will help ensure that first responders and utility service vehicles can refuel during a disaster and assist with emergency response and restoration of critical services,”
Grants funds can be used for general electrical panels, labor of electricians, transfer switches, tap switches, and other necessary accessories to maintain access to vehicle fuel during power outages. When reviewing applications, the Commission considered the availability of fuel and staffing, timeline, budget, and matching funds. Since 2016, the Commission has awarded $397,368 for 37 grants. The PSC accepted applications for funding between September 22 and November 3, 2021.
The Refueling Readiness Grant Program is part of the PSC’s ongoing coordination of energy assurance planning and exercise activities with other key agencies such as Wisconsin Emergency Management; the Wisconsin National Guard; the Wisconsin Department of Transportation; the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection; as well as Tribal and county emergency managers.
Facilities that were eligible for funding included:
- Privately, municipally, and Tribally-owned convenience stores with both unleaded and diesel fuel availability;
- Municipally and Tribally-owned highway shops;
- Bulk Petroleum Storage Facilities: A privately owned facility used in the storage or marketing of petroleum products (including propane), which has a total bulk storage capacity of less than 50,000 barrels and receives product by rail, barge, or truck.
Click here for a list of grant recipients.
Click here for more information about the Wisconsin Refueling Readiness Grant Program.
