DOE Announces Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) Funding Opportunity

On March 12, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Electricity announced an approximate $1.9 billion to catalyze electricity infrastructure investments to meet electricity demand growth and resource adequacy requirements, while reducing costs for American households and businesses. Funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program was authorized to provide 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. To provide clarity with the program's updated emphasis, this funding opportunity has been renamed "Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK)." Focused on areas of grid resilience, smart grid, and grid innovation, State and Territory Energy Offices are eligible to apply as lead applicants for topic areas 2 and 3 and as subrecipients for all three topic areas.?Applicants must submit a concept paper by April 2, 2026, to be eligible to submit a full application. Full applications are due by May 20, 2026. Inquiries on this Notice of Funding Opportunity should be directed to [email protected].