Grid Resilience Grant Program

The Grid Resilience Grant Program Opportunity Announcement 25-079 is administered by the Oregon Department of Energy and funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act under Section 40101(d). This funding originates from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants program, which provides formula-based allocations to states to enhance the reliability, resilience, and security of the electric grid. Oregon’s program is designed to distribute subgrants to electric utilities across the state to support projects that reduce the likelihood and impact of disruptive events such as wildfires and natural hazards. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to solicit competitive applications from eligible electric utilities for projects that strengthen grid infrastructure and improve community resilience. The program emphasizes activities that supplement existing grid hardening efforts, increase the ability to withstand and recover from disruptions, and deliver measurable community benefits. Priority is given to projects that reduce outage frequency and duration, mitigate wildfire risk associated with utility equipment, and improve service reliability for customers, particularly in vulnerable or high-risk areas. Funding for this specific opportunity totals 11.5 million dollars, with a minimum of 4.6 million dollars reserved for small utilities and up to 6.9 million dollars available for large utilities. Small utilities are defined as those selling no more than 4 million megawatt hours annually, while large utilities exceed that threshold. Projects may include a wide range of eligible activities such as undergrounding power lines, vegetation management, installation of fire-resistant technologies, deployment of monitoring and control systems, adaptive protection technologies, and the use of distributed energy resources such as microgrids and battery storage. Certain uses are prohibited, including cybersecurity investments and construction of new generation facilities not tied to resilience objectives. A cost-sharing requirement applies to all applicants. Small utilities must provide at least one-third matching funds relative to the federal award, while large utilities must provide a full one-to-one match. Applicants are required to demonstrate the availability of these matching funds at the time of application. Additionally, all awarded projects must comply with federal requirements including reporting, procurement standards, domestic sourcing under Build America Buy America provisions, prevailing wage requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act, and other applicable regulatory conditions. The application process is competitive and involves submission of a complete application through the designated digital portal. Only one application per utility is permitted, although partnerships between utilities may be submitted jointly with a designated lead entity. Applications must include project descriptions, budgets, and supporting documentation demonstrating feasibility, compliance, and expected outcomes. After submission, applications undergo a two-step review process: initial selection by the Oregon Department of Energy followed by approval from the U.S. Department of Energy. Selected applicants must then complete additional documentation including environmental reviews, budget justifications, and cost match verification before receiving a formal performance agreement. Applications for this funding round opened on October 7, 2025 and closed on January 30, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Following submission, the review process began in February 2026, with project selection notifications anticipated in April 2026. Final approval by the U.S. Department of Energy occurs after additional review, with implementation timelines extending into mid-2026 and beyond. The program is part of a multi-year funding allocation structure, and future rounds are expected based on ongoing federal funding cycles. For inquiries, applicants may contact the Oregon Department of Energy via email at grid.grants@energy.oregon.gov. The program includes ongoing stakeholder engagement opportunities such as webinars and office hours during the application period to support applicants. Overall, this grant represents a significant investment in modernizing Oregon’s electric grid infrastructure while enhancing resilience against increasing environmental and operational risks.

Prioritize projects demonstrating measurable reduction in outages and wildfire risk; clearly quantify community benefits and resilience improvements; ensure full compliance with federal requirements