Grid Infrastructure Deployment and Resilience
Active
- Assistance listing
- 81.254
- Agency
-
Department of Energy
- Grant awards
- 473 $9,854,964,987 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Formula Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 89-0318-0-1-999
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Energy's Grid Deployment Office administers the Grid Infrastructure Deployment and Resilience program (CFDA 81.254), which funds electric grid modernization, resilience, and transmission infrastructure projects; the most recent award was obligated on February 1, 2026. The program has disbursed 473 awards totaling $9.85 billion in federal obligations since February 2023, with a combined federal and non-federal investment of $23.23 billion. Activity peaked in 2024 with 250 awards but has slowed sharply—only one award in 2026 and 71 in 2025—suggesting the portfolio is in a consolidation phase after major appropriations cycles.
The program funds concrete grid infrastructure: transmission line reconductoring and rebuilding using advanced conductors, distribution system upgrades including undergrounding and smart grid automation, microgrid development with battery energy storage and renewable integration, wildfire mitigation technologies, resilience improvements for vulnerable communities and critical facilities, interconnection process modernization, workforce development programs supporting utility trades, and regional coordination initiatives. Specific recent awards include $1.53 billion to reconductor and rebuild over 100 miles of transmission in California with dynamic line rating deployment; $320.59 million for advanced conductor and dynamic line rating rollout across Georgia; $165.43 million for unified hazard mitigation and situational awareness technologies; $4.33 billion to construct an interregional HVDC transmission backbone connecting three grid operators; and microgrid projects ranging from $5.7 million for Unalaska distribution expansion to $176.6 million for Tribal-owned community microgrids.
Assistance comes predominantly as Formula Grants (67 percent, 317 awards), with smaller shares of Project Grants (22 percent, 103 awards) and Cooperative Agreements (11 percent, 53 awards). The Department of Energy and its sub-organization the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability fund essentially all awards; DOE accounts for 472 awards at $9.85 billion, with one award by the sub-office at $464 thousand. Recipients include utilities, states, Tribal governments, local governments, and nonprofit organizations.
Three opportunities are currently or recently open: the SPARK (Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring) cooperative agreement solicitation, posted March 12, 2026, due May 20, 2026, targets reconductoring and advanced transmission technology upgrades combining physical capacity with operational efficiency gains on existing rights of way; the Transmission Siting and Economic Development Program (DE-FOA-0003101), open through June 30, 2025, funds state and local transmission siting support and community economic mitigation; and the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund (DE-FOA-0003096), closed since September 2023, previously solicited residential rooftop solar, battery storage, and workforce training in Puerto Rico. A recent RFI (DE-FOA-0003574) posted October 21, 2025, with a November 21, 2025 deadline, sought input on grid capacity expansion driven by data center and advanced manufacturing electricity demand.
Objective and description
- Objective
The Grid Deployment Office (GDO) works to catalyze the development of new and upgraded electric infrastructure across the country by maintaining and investing in critical generation facilities; developing and upgrading high-capacity electric transmis
- Description
The Grid Deployment Office (GDO) acts as a partner with states, Tribes, territories, industry, communities, and other energy sector stakeholders to deploy solutions to lower energy costs and improve grid reliability and resilience. It strives to work in strong partnership with those across the U.S. to support a robust generation, transmission, and distribution system, which is the backbone of the Nation's economic, energy, and national security infrastructure. GDO provides funding through grants and cooperative agreements to stimulate the public purpose of a robust generation, transmission, and distribution system
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
All types of domestic entities are eligible to apply, such as profit organizations, private nonprofit institutions/organizations, universities, research organizations, state and local governments, and Indian Tribes, unless the funding opportunity announcement contains a "Determination of Restricted Eligibility". All information regarding eligibility requirements will be included in the specific funding opportunity announcement
- Uses of assistance
The specific notice of funding opportunity will describe how the assistance will be used for those selected for an award.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
The time period is dependent upon notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) requirements and the individual project award. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: financial assistance grant and cooperative agreement award documents Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Electronic funds transfer
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
Any pre-application coordination will be identified within the specific notice of funding opportunity.
- Application procedure
Any steps for applying for assistance will be identified within the notice of funding opportunity.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Evaluation and selection criteria, as well as the process and timeline, will be discussed within the specific notice of funding opportunity.
- Award procedure
All applications which pass an initial review will receive an objective merit review. The objective merit review will be based on evaluation criteria set forth in the competitive notice of funding opportunity.
- Deadlines
Deadlines will be specifically identified within the notice of funding opportunity.
- Time to approval or disapproval
60-120 days
- Renewals
Grants and Cooperative Agreements may be modified or extended as detailed within the award terms and conditions
- Appeals
All information regarding appeals will be included in the specific notice of funding opportunity.
Grant opportunities
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 473 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department Of Commerce Montana | $747,459,092 | 8% |
| 2 | State Of California Energy Commission | $737,295,480 | 7% |
| 3 | Department Of Commerce Minnesota | $482,880,868 | 5% |
| 4 | Massachusetts Department Of Energy Resources | $413,167,168 | 4% |
| 5 | Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority | $365,000,000 | 4% |
| 6 | Sunnova Energy Corp | $281,125,856 | 3% |
| 7 | Georgia Environmental Finance Authority | $275,148,956 | 3% |
| 8 | Department Of Conservation And Energy, State Of Louisiana | $269,662,536 | 3% |
| 9 | Utah Office Of Energy Development | $267,405,860 | 3% |
| 10 | Confederated Tribes Of Warm Springs Reservation Of Oregon | $252,074,716 | 3% |
10 of 447 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$45,541,412 |
| FY2025 | $4,831,157,967 |
| FY2024 | $4,314,529,692 |
| FY2023 | $754,382,022 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 81.254?
Assistance Listing 81.254 is Grid Infrastructure Deployment and Resilience, a federal grant program run by Department of Energy.
What is the CFDA number for Grid Infrastructure Deployment and Resilience?
Its CFDA number is 81.254: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 81.254 awarded?
473 grant awards under 81.254 have obligated $9,854,964,987 in federal funds to 447 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 81.254?
The recipients obligated the most under Grid Infrastructure Deployment and Resilience are Department Of Commerce Montana ($747,459,092), State Of California Energy Commission ($737,295,480) and Department Of Commerce Minnesota ($482,880,868).
How much did 81.254 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 81.254 obligated $4,831,157,967 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 81.254?
No opportunity listed under 81.254 is open now. The latest, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) - Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK), was posted on March 12, 2026.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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