The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is accepting applications through May 20 for about $1.9 billion in cooperative agreement funding through the Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) program. According to the agency, the program is a transmission modernization initiative geared toward expanding grid capacity through upgrades to existing infrastructure.
SPARK is the third and final funding round under the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to deliver up to $10.5 billion over five years. The DOE’s Office of Electricity announced the opportunity March 12, with the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) administering the awards.
The first two GRIP rounds distributed a combined $7.6 billion across 105 projects in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to the DOE.
According to the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), successful applications must show how hardware upgrades such as replacing existing conductors with higher-capacity lines work alongside software and operational tools. These include real-time monitoring and dynamic line ratings to deliver measurable improvements in grid capacity and performance.
The DOE has identified three priority project types: reconductoring with advanced conductors, deploying Advanced Transmission Technologies (ATTs) that increase usable capacity of existing infrastructure and large-scale cross-regional transmission upgrades.
The first project focus area involves overall grid resilience. It includes approximately $427 million supporting 5 to 10 awards of $10 million to $100 million each. It targets projects that strengthen grid reliability by deploying reconductoring and other ATTs on existing transmission lines. According to the NOFO, projects must boost the grid’s ability to move power between regions, increase operational flexibility and limit the impact of extreme weather events.
The second project focus area covers efforts to make the grid smarter, with around $614 million supporting 25 to 40 awards, ranging from $10 to $50 million each. It focuses on deploying advanced grid technology such as new devices, materials, engineering designs or software tools, to enhance real-time monitoring and control.
The agency said it is particularly interested in projects deploying digital and operational tools such as dynamic line rating systems, advanced sensors, communications networks and grid optimization software.
The third area of focus deals with grid innovation. This focus area is fueled by roughly $862 million supporting three to eight awards of $100 million to $250 million each, making it the largest of the three by total funding. It targets large-scale demonstration projects that span multiple jurisdictions.
The DOE said it is looking for projects that expand transmission capacity across regions to support growing electricity demand from sources such as data centers and industrial facilities. Applications are open to states, combinations of states, Tribal governments, local governments and public utility commissions.
The current SPARK round closes out a federal investment program that has already reshaped the transmission contracting landscape. The first GRIP round, announced in October 2023, delivered about $3.5 billion for 58 projects across 44 states. A second round added billions more for dozens of additional selections, with funded projects collectively upgrading thousands of miles of transmission infrastructure, according to the DOE.
As a cooperative agreement, SPARK carries cost-share requirements that signal significant private co-investment alongside the federal dollars. The agency anticipates announcing project selections in August, with awards expected between October 2026 and January 2027.
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