The selected projects will update grid infrastructure to increase load capacity and resilience against severe weather, resulting in a more affordable and reliable electricity supply for North Carolinians.

Duke Energy’s Cherokee Area Resiliency and Environmental Safety (CAR-ES) project will transform the grid in two disadvantaged communities in the Cherokee area. CAR-ES aims to harden the grid and improve its ability to self-optimize and automate processes to reduce outage times and improve resilience.

Authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these funds are provided by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program. Over the next three years, the state anticipates receiving annual funding to improve the grid.

This program will help achieve the state’s goal of delivering reliable electricity at an affordable cost to residents.