The U.S. Department of Energy has launched a $1.9 billion funding program to accelerate upgrades to the U.S. power grid. The initiative targets faster deployment of transmission improvements to meet rising electricity demand and reduce system costs.
The funding will support projects under the SPARK (Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades) program. The program prioritizes reconductoring existing transmission lines and deploying advanced transmission technologies to expand capacity and improve operational efficiency. These upgrades will use existing rights-of-way to enable faster delivery timelines.
The program builds on the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, which allocated up to $10.5 billion to strengthen grid infrastructure. The new funding round focuses on near-term transmission upgrades that can quickly increase transfer capacity and improve system reliability.
The Department of Energy will accept concept papers until April 2, 2026, and full applications until May 20, 2026. The agency expects to announce selected projects in August 2026.