Energy Resilience Grant Program

The Energy Resilience Grant Program will provide funding for eligible applicants to initiate and accelerate projects focused on energy resilience in critical facilities.

Program funds totaling $1.5 million are provided through the U.S. Department of Energy. Critical facilities vary from community to community and may include, but are not limited to, public safety buildings, courthouses, emergency management offices, and fire stations.

Grant requests can total up to $200,000, with a 15 percent cost match required. Additional leveraging of funds is encouraged to maximize the energy-related benefits of a project, such as philanthropy or in-kind contributions. Please note, due to limited funding the grants are highly competitive and only a small number of projects may receive a grant award. According to the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) small grants waiver, projects must be a single, standalone effort and total project costs must be less than $250,000 (including local matching funds).

For the application to qualify for review, all applicants must have or be in the process of completing a feasibility study, energy assessment, energy audit, or a comparable study. Only one application can be submitted per applicant, and all projects awarded funding must be completed by March 1, 2028.

The application period will open on August 19 and close on September 11, 2026. All awarded applicants will have access to technical assistance provided by GDS Associates to assist with starting a project and with the RFP and best practices toolkit.

Eligible Applicants: 

  • State agencies
  • Local governments
  • K-12 public schools
  • Houses of worship

Eligible Projects:

  • Solar PV
    • Installation of a PV system on a critical facility. PV systems can be on the roof, ground-mounted, or a car awing/canopy. Systems more than 60kW will be subject to a NEPA review.
  • Battery Storage/Backup Generators
    • Installation of a battery energy storage system (BESS)
  • Transfer Switches
    • Installation of a transfer switch for backup generator connection on a critical facility.

How to apply?

An announcement will be made before the opening of the application period to ensure proper time to gather ideas and quotes for submission.

Resources