The funding will support Four County’s Strengthening Transmission Efficiency and Enhancing Lifespan (STEEL) project—a $6 million initiative designed to enhance grid resiliency and improve service reliability for members.

This investment is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience Formula Grant Program, established under Section 40101(d) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Administered by NCDEQ, the program supports grid improvements that help communities better withstand extreme weather events and reduce outages caused by aging equipment.

For Four County EMC, the grant will fund vital upgrades to the transmission line running from Waycross to Turkey in Sampson County. The project includes replacing 116 aging wooden poles with 140 engineered steel poles and installing larger-capacity conductors. These enhancements will bring the system in line with modern safety and engineering standards—boosting wind resistance and improving power reliability across the region.

“This investment in our transmission system is a major step forward for our members,” said Gregg Cohn, Vice President of Engineering at Four County EMC. “By strengthening this critical link in our grid, we’re ensuring that homes and businesses across our region benefit from fewer outages, faster restoration times, and infrastructure ready for the energy demands of the future.”

In addition to increasing reliability, the STEEL project is expected to reduce long-term maintenance costs and provide capacity for 115 kV transmission—supporting future economic development and population growth. With a projected lifespan exceeding 75 years, the upgraded infrastructure will serve generations of cooperative members.

Four County EMC expresses its sincere thanks to the U.S. Department of Energy, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, and the State Energy Office for their support in advancing this essential project.