BURGAW, N.C. — Four County Electric Membership Corporation (Four County EMC) has been awarded a $2.9 million grant by The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) State Energy Office to strengthen local electric grid infrastructure through the Strengthening Transmission Efficiency and Enhancing Lifespan (STEEL) project.
Funded through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience Formula Grant Program under Section 40101(d) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and administered by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, the grant supports grid improvements that reduce the impact of extreme weather and aging equipment.
This investment will support Four County EMC’s efforts to modernize critical transmission infrastructure in Sampson County. Specifically, the transmission line running from Waycross to Turkey will be modernized by replacing 116 wooden poles and undersized conductors—with 140 engineered steel poles and larger-capacity conductors. These upgrades will bring the system up to modern safety and engineering standards, increasing its wind tolerance and significantly improving reliability and performance.
“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.”
The $2.9 million project will also support long-term cost savings and system resilience. Once completed, the new transmission line will have a lifespan exceeding 75 years and be capable of supporting 115 kV transmission—laying the groundwork for future grid enhancements and regional growth.
Four County EMC extends its appreciation to the U.S. Department of Energy, NCDEQ, and the State Energy Office for their role in making this essential project possible.