State launches $10 million grant to enhance Arkansas’ electric grid

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration announced Tuesday that proposals are now being accepted for 2024 Grid Enhancement Grant funding.

More than $10 million will initially be distributed to utilities and related companies to prevent electric outages and enhance the resilience of the state’s electric grid. An additional $5 million in funding is anticipated in late 2024.

Since the grant program was announced in late 2023, DFA has coordinated with other departments and industry stakeholders to develop a process that makes the grant accessible to small and large utilities. “A year ago, Arkansans united to support the citizens and communities affected by the devastating tornadoes,” Gov.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. “Today, the grid funding is one more way the state continues to recover and prepare as we enhance our electric infrastructure across Arkansas.

Strengthening our electric grid will protect Arkansans for years to come.”

The money is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Grid Enhancement Grant program seeks to strengthen and modernize America’s power grid against natural disasters.

In addition to utilities, examples of those that may qualify for this grant include electric grid operators, electricity storage operators, electricity generators, transmission owners or operators, distribution providers and fuel suppliers.

“Grid funding will allow utility providers and others to supplement investments to increase the certainty and reliability of services at lower costs to the citizens,” said Becky Keogh, infrastructure coordinator for the state of Arkansas. “Providing funding to rural portions of the state is especially important to ensure we are prepared in every area if the state faces a natural disaster.”

The deadline to submit a proposal is July 19. Instructions, supporting guidance and the related application may be found at the following link: https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/

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https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/news/de tails/proposals-now-being-acceptedfor- grid-enhancement-funding.

DFA encourages all eligible and interested entities to review the application, guidance and posted FAQ document. Questions may be directed to infrastructure@dfa.arkansas.gov.

Due to the competitive nature of this program, DFA will provide answers to questions that are broadly applicable to eligible applicants by posting an updated FAQ document with responses.

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Conway man arrested on child pornography charges

CONWAY — A Conway man is facing multiple child pornography charges after agents with the Arkansas State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a search warrant on his home in the 600 block of East German Lane, across the street from Florence Mattison Elementary School, on March 28.

Jesse Anderson, 30, is in custody at the Faulkner County Detention Center on multiple counts of distributing, possessing or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, a news release issued by the Arkansas State Police read.

Agents investigated Anderson for eight months before executing the search warrant on his home. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children submitted six CyberTips regarding Anderson’s alleged actions in August 2023 after Google reported that he had uploaded 133 files “consistent with child sexual abuse material” to his account, court documents filed at the Faulkner County Circuit Court last Friday read.

Investigators also submitted a search warrant to Yahoo and Google. That warrant “resulted in thousands of additional files that are under processing,” court documents read.

Agents seized electronic devices from Anderson’s home March 28 and interviewed him. Anderson “admitted to using the email addresses and phone information associated with the CyberTips” in the interview, court documents read.

A district judge set Anderson’s bond at $500,000 on Monday ahead of his first court date at 9 a.m. on April 22. In his affidavit of indigency, Anderson wrote that he had no spouse, earned no income, had no assets and no expenses.

The judge approved his request for a public defender.