NC S509

Establishes the Energy Resilient Communities Fund within the State Energy Office to provide grants to local governments for clean energy projects, energy efficiency, and renewable energy planning and implementation.

Authorizes three types of grants: technical assistance for infrastructure resilience and microgrid planning (up to $50,000 per local government), community outreach and stakeholder engagement (up to $25,000 per local government), and development and construction of clean energy microgrids supporting critical community infrastructure (up to $150,000 per local government).

Prioritizes grants for projects benefiting environmental justice communities, community solar facilities, and microgrids that maximize greenhouse gas reductions, air quality improvements, resiliency benefits, sustainable land use, or involvement of women-owned and minority-owned small businesses and nonprofits.

Requires local governments to provide matching funds at a 1:3 ratio (one non-State dollar for every three grant dollars), with in-kind assistance permitted under a valuation methodology specified by the Office.

Appropriates $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2021-2022 and $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2022-2023 from the General Fund to the State Energy Office for the Fund.