Restoring Reliability: Coal Recommissioning and Modernization
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- DE-FOA-0003605
- Agency
-
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Department of Energy
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $70,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
-
- 81.255 Clean Energy Demonstrations
- Funding instrument
- Other
- Category
-
- Energy
- Eligible applicants
-
- County Governments
- City/Township Governments
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- For Profit Organizations
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- State Governments
- Points of contact
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is seeking proposals under the Restoring Reliability: Coal Recommissioning and Modernization grant opportunity to address the urgent grid capacity crisis. The solicitation aims to recommission, retrofit, and strategically repurpose coal-fired generation assets to enhance energy reliability, particularly in regions with constrained transmission and sustained load growth. Eligible applicants include county and city governments, tribal organizations, nonprofits, higher education institutions, and both for-profit and private organizations. The grant will prioritize projects that can rapidly restore grid stability, support national defense installations, semiconductor fabrication, AI data centers, and industrial re-shoring initiatives. Applications will be evaluated based on merit review criteria, program policy factors, and the availability of funds, with the final application due date set for February 11, 2026.
While specific award amounts are not explicitly stated, the grant falls under the Clean Energy Demonstrations program (CFDA 81.255), which typically awards projects ranging from $2 million to $500 million. The performance period is likely to span 4-10 years, depending on project complexity and specific requirements. The initiative is part of a broader national energy emergency response, as outlined in Executive Order 14156, which directs federal agencies to ensure reliable, affordable, and secure generation resources. Projects will be expected to demonstrate immediate grid reliability improvements and strategic repurposing of existing coal-fired infrastructure, with potential consideration of federal financing mechanisms like DOE loan guarantees.
Synopsis
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
DE-FOA-0003605 Restoring Reliability Coal Recommissioning and Modernization. The United States is confronting an urgent grid capacity crisis. DOE's 2025 Grid Reliability Assessment (DOE/GR-2025-001) confirmed that coal retirements outpace other reliable, affordable, and secure generation resources. These challenges are especially acute in regions with constrained transmission and sustained load growth. In January 2025, Executive Order 14156 declared a national energy emergency, directing DOE and other federal agencies to use their full statutory authority to ensure reliable, affordable and secure generation resources.
The operational strain created by the increasing penetration of intermittent renewables has forced thermal units to cycle beyond their designed parameters, accelerating wear and raising the risk of forced outages and blackouts. This reliability emergency coincides with surging demand from national defense installations, semiconductor fabrication, AI data centers, critical mineral processing, and industrial re-shoring, all of which require uninterrupted access to reliable, affordable and secure power.
Coal-fired generation assets, long central to U.S. energy security, retain valuable infrastructure make them uniquely positioned to deliver near-term reliability at scale. The recommissioning, retrofitting, and strategically repurposing these assets offers the fastest and most cost-effective path to restoring stability while supporting the nation's industrial and security priorities.
Update #1 ·
DE-FOA-0003605 Restoring Reliability Coal Recommissioning and Modernization. The United States is confronting an urgent grid capacity crisis. DOE's 2025 Grid Reliability Assessment (DOE/GR-2025-001) confirmed that coal retirements outpace other reliable, affordable, and secure generation resources. These challenges are especially acute in regions with constrained transmission and sustained load growth. In January 2025, Executive Order 14156 declared a national energy emergency, directing DOE and other federal agencies to use their full statutory authority to ensure reliable, affordable and secure generation resources.
The operational strain created by the increasing penetration of intermittent renewables has forced thermal units to cycle beyond their designed parameters, accelerating wear and raising the risk of forced outages and blackouts. This reliability emergency coincides with surging demand from national defense installations, semiconductor fabrication, AI data centers, critical mineral processing, and industrial re-shoring, all of which require uninterrupted access to reliable, affordable and secure power.
Coal-fired generation assets, long central to U.S. energy security, retain valuable infrastructure make them uniquely positioned to deliver near-term reliability at scale. The recommissioning, retrofitting, and strategically repurposing these assets offers the fastest and most cost-effective path to restoring stability while supporting the nation's industrial and security priorities.
On GovTribe
Work this opportunity
- Track it in your pipeline
- Find teaming partners
- Similar grant opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this opportunity