Committee restores $1.22 million in spending authority for microgrids grants after technical lapse

The Department of Local Affairs asked the committee to restore $1,219,700 in state spending authority for the Microgrids for Community Resilience grant program after the department inadvertently allowed the state-funded portion of the program to revert at fiscal year end.

JBC staff said the department believed it had statutory authority to continue administering the program for federal grants and that a drafting error prevented state spending authority from carrying forward. "That amount exactly matches what reverted," JBC staff said; the request was therefore presented as a net-zero reauthorization of previously appropriated funds.

The committee approved the staff recommendation unanimously. Staff noted the original appropriation included administrative cost allowances and that the department underspent those administrative appropriations, partially offsetting the request.