Energy Department Offers $1.9B for Grid Upgrades

DOE Funding Announcements

Published March 12th, 2026

Detected March 13th, 2026

Summary

The U.S. Department of Energy announced a $1.9 billion funding opportunity to upgrade the nation's power grid. The SPARK funding opportunity aims to accelerate upgrades to meet rising electricity demand, lower costs for consumers, and improve grid reliability. Concept papers are due April 2, 2026, and applications are due May 20, 2026.

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What changed

The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Electricity has announced an approximately $1.9 billion funding opportunity, dubbed SPARK, to accelerate critical upgrades to the nation's power grid. This initiative aims to meet rising electricity demand, enhance resource adequacy, and reduce electricity costs for American households and businesses by focusing on reconductoring and other Advanced Transmission Technologies. The funding aligns with an executive order to unleash American energy and seeks projects that demonstrate how these upgrades can expand grid capacity, increase operational efficiency, and improve reliability and security.

Eligible entities, including states, tribes, and electric utilities, are invited to submit concept papers by April 2, 2026, with full applications due by May 20, 2026. Selections are anticipated in August 2026. This funding opportunity builds upon previous GRIP program initiatives and represents a significant investment in modernizing the U.S. power grid to support future energy needs and economic growth.

What to do next

Review SPARK funding opportunity details and eligibility requirements.
Prepare and submit concept papers by April 2, 2026.
Prepare and submit full applications by May 20, 2026.

Source document (simplified)

Energy Department Announces $1.9B Investment in Critical Grid Infrastructure to Reduce Electricity Costs

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity (OE) today announced an approximately $1.9 billion funding opportunity to accelerate urgently needed upgrades to the nation’s power grid.

Energy.gov

March 12, 2026

WASHINGTON —The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity (OE) today announced an approximately $1.9 billion funding opportunity to accelerate urgently needed upgrades to the nation’s power grid. These investments will meet rising electricity demand and resource adequacy needs, while lowering electricity costs for American households and businesses. Projects selected through the Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) funding opportunity will deliver fast and durable upgrades to the grid with real results.

In line with President Trump’s Executive Order, Unleashing American Energy, selected projects will demonstrate how reconductoring—replacing existing power lines with higher‑capacity conductors—paired with other Advanced Transmission Technologies (ATTs) can expand grid capacity, increase operational efficiency, lower prices for consumers, and improve overall system reliability and security of the nation’s electric grid.

“For too long, important grid modernization and energy addition efforts were not prioritized by past leaders,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “Thanks to President Trump, we are doing the important work of modernizing our grid so electricity costs will be lowered for American families and businesses.”

“The United States must increase grid capacity to meet demand, and ensure the grid provides reliable power—day-in and day-out,” said OE Assistant Secretary Katie Jereza. “Through this SPARK funding opportunity, we will stabilize and optimize grid operations to strengthen it for rapid growth.”

The SPARK opportunity builds on the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, which provided up to $10.5 billion in competitive funding over five years to states, tribes, electric utilities, and other eligible recipients to strengthen grid resilience and innovation. The previous two GRIP funding rounds covered FY 2022-2023 and FY 2023-2024 funding. Today’s announcement continues the mission of the GRIP Program under the SPARK funding opportunity, focusing on the rapid deployment of reconductoring and other ATTs that expand transfer capability, strengthen reliability and resource adequacy, and reduce costs for consumers, all while making use of existing rights of way.

Concept papers are due April 2, 2026, and full applications are due May 20, 2026. DOE anticipates making selections in August 2026. An informational webinar will be posted on the OE website by March 19, 2026.

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