Federal Cooperative Agreement Award Summary

The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) awarded Umatilla Electric Cooperative a Cooperative Agreement totaling $2,385,130 on August 15, 2026, under the Cybersecurity, Energy Security & Emergency Response (CESER) program (CFDA 81.008). The project, titled "Umatilla Electric Cooperative Operational Technology and Industrial Control Systems Dark Fiber Expansion Project," will be executed through February 14, 2029, and funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The cooperative will leverage these federal funds to implement significant modifications and investments in dark fiber infrastructure to enhance cybersecurity protections for its operational technology and industrial control systems.

This project directly supports the CESER program's mission to develop and demonstrate tools and technologies that reduce cybersecurity and physical security risks to U.S. energy infrastructure. By expanding dark fiber capabilities—a secure, dedicated communication medium—Umatilla Electric Cooperative will strengthen its ability to monitor, detect, and respond to cybersecurity threats to its electrical utility operations serving customers in the Hermiston, Oregon region. The award represents a targeted investment in rural energy infrastructure resilience, consistent with CESER's focus on next-generation protective technologies for the energy sector.