Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) — Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK)
🏛 National Energy Technology Laboratory
Can you apply?
This grant is for power system infrastructure projects that increase electric grid capacity and reliability across the U.S. Eligible applicants include utility companies, public power agencies, cooperatives, state and local governments, tribal nations, and other entities involved in electric grid operations. Projects must demonstrate measurable improvements in grid capacity and system value through infrastructure upgrades like reconductoring combined with advanced transmission technologies. Funding is available on a competitive basis for projects that can be implemented quickly to deliver upgrades strengthening reliability, resilience, and affordability.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
Program description
Modification 000001: Issued to change the Informational Webinar posting date; modified NOFO Part 1, Section II.A.2 – Participant Limitations to clarify that Tennessee Valley Authority is eligible to apply as a subrecipient under all Topic Areas; Section III.F. – Topic Area 1:Grid Resilience (IIJA Section 40101(c)) to clarify the wording around applications that are not of interest; and Section IV.C – Concept Paper to delete the sentence “Each concept paper must be limited to a single concept, technology, or project.”
Please see the NOFO for a full description of the modification.
SPARK is an opportunity to meet load demand growth and resource adequacy, and to address critical national, interregional, and regional needs. OE achieves these goals by stimulating investment in power system infrastructure and building partnerships between states, local governments, tribes, and power system operators to enhance reliability and affordability of the electric grid.
Projects submitted under this NOFO must demonstrate measurable improvements in electric grid capacity and system value (usefulness), combining physical capacity gains, which include solutions such as reconductoring or other infrastructure upgrades with operational efficiency and/or flexibility from other Advanced Transmission Technologies (ATTs). Applications must show how these complementary technologies expand transfer capability, strengthen reliability and resource adequacy, and reduce consumer cost impact while utilizing existing rights of way. DOE will prioritize projects that can be implemented quickly to deliver durable physical upgrades and dynamic operational gains that together increase the value, performance, security, resilience, affordability, and reliability of the nation’s electric grid.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
- Concept Paper (if required for your project)
- SF-424 or appropriate Federal application forms
- Project Narrative and Technical Description
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Organizational qualifications and experience
- Letters of support from partners and stakeholders
- Cost-sharing documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Davina Reed Grantor
- 📧 DE-FOA-0003580@netl.doe.gov
- 📞 412-386-9199
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 81.254 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$700,000,000
-
$630,561,319
-
$464,477,359
-
$389,345,755
-
$365,000,000
-
$281,125,850
-
$250,000,000
-
$249,567,716
-
$249,329,483
-
$249,129,382
Top States by Funding
- CA 7 awards $1,022.3M
- MT 3 awards $769.4M
- PR 3 awards $677.1M
- MN 3 awards $614.5M
- GA 4 awards $533.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 81.254). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,841,236,672 | |
| 2025 | $5,391,157,917 | |
| 2026 est. | $260,525,418 |
FAQ
Who can apply for SPARK funding?
Eligible applicants include electric utilities, public power agencies, transmission operators, state and local governments, tribal nations, and other entities with authority over power system infrastructure. See the NOFO Section II.A for the complete list of eligible applicants and any restrictions.
What types of projects does SPARK fund?
Projects combining physical infrastructure upgrades (like reconductoring) with advanced transmission technologies. Projects must show how these improvements expand transfer capability, strengthen reliability, and reduce consumer costs.
What is the deadline?
The deadline for applications is May 20, 2026. Check the NOFO for any concept paper or letter of intent deadlines that may apply.
How much funding is available?
Awards range from $1 million to $250 million. The total funding pool is $1.9 billion. Competition is expected to be intense due to the large award range and fixed deadline.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes, cost sharing is required. Applicants must contribute their own funds as matching funds for the project.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Demonstrate measurable improvements in grid capacity and system value with specific metrics. Vague descriptions of benefits will not be competitive.
- Combine physical infrastructure upgrades with operational efficiency solutions. Projects addressing only one category will be weaker.
- Show how your project utilizes existing rights of way and reduces consumer cost impact. This alignment with DOE priorities strengthens your application.
- Document how your project can be implemented quickly. Speed of delivery is a stated DOE priority for this funding.
- Build strong partnerships with state/local governments, tribes, and operators early. Collaborative approaches demonstrate commitment to broader grid improvements.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Focusing only on infrastructure upgrades without showing operational efficiency or flexibility gains from advanced transmission technologies. Failing to quantify and document measurable improvements in grid capacity, reliability, and system value. Proposing projects without clear timelines for quick implementation or without demonstrating use of existing rights of way.
Similar grants
- OPEN Rural Community Health Integration2026 — New York State Department of Health
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Rangeland Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN Infertility Training Center — Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health