Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) — Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK)
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-04-29. Official notice and agency instructions control.
If you deploy transmission infrastructure or advanced grid control tech, this $1–$250M program funds shovel-ready projects that combine physical upgrades with operational efficiency.
Report stale or inaccurate summary
What this is
This IIJA-funded program supports projects that enhance electric grid capacity and reliability through combined physical infrastructure upgrades and advanced transmission technologies. Applicants must demonstrate measurable improvements in grid capacity and system value, show how solutions expand transfer capability and strengthen resource adequacy, and prioritize quick implementation using existing rights of way. Awards range from $1M to $250M, with preference for projects delivering durable physical upgrades and dynamic operational gains that increase affordability, security, and resilience.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants include states, local governments, tribes, power system operators, utilities, and other entities (see NOFO for details). Tennessee Valley Authority may apply as a subrecipient. Solo founders and early-stage startups are unlikely to be competitive; established energy companies, utilities, and infrastructure developers are the primary audience.
Eligible applicant types
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Full description — from the agency
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.
Topics: electric grid infrastructure · transmission technology · grid resilience · reconductoring · advanced transmission technologies · grid modernization · infrastructure investment
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.