Pennsylvania Grid Resilience Grant Program – Round 2

The Pennsylvania Grid Resilience Grant Program (GRG) is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) through its Energy Programs Office. Funded under Section 40101(d) of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), this initiative is designed to reduce the frequency and impact of disruptive electric grid events throughout the state. The program is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and provides formula-based state allocations to strengthen grid infrastructure. With a particular emphasis on reliability, clean energy expansion, and community resilience, GRG funding supports projects that improve grid operations, environmental outcomes, and economic stability. The second round of the GRG Program offers approximately $8 million in funding for new competitive awards. Projects may be awarded a five-year initial performance period, with the potential to extend up to ten years to accommodate completion. At least five percent of program funds are reserved for small utilities—entities that sell no more than 4,000,000 megawatt-hours of electricity annually. These applicants are subject to a lower cost match requirement of one-third of the grant amount, whereas all other applicants must provide a 100% match. Matching funds must be new, documented public or private investments made during the grant period. Ineligible expenditures include application preparation, land acquisition, indirect costs, travel, and several other categories as outlined in the guidance. Eligible applicants include a broad range of grid-related stakeholders such as electric grid operators, storage operators, generators, transmission owners or operators, distribution providers, fuel suppliers, and other relevant entities as defined by DEP in consultation with DOE. Eligible project types span a range of resilience measures, including weatherization technologies, fire-resistant systems, undergrounding of equipment, vegetation management, adaptive protection technologies, advanced modeling, and infrastructure improvements like microgrids and battery storage—so long as these assets are intended for exclusive use during disruptive events. The application process is structured in two stages. Applicants must first submit a Concept Paper, which is required for eligibility to submit a Full Application. Concept Papers will be accepted from June 2, 2025, until August 8, 2025, at 11:59 PM, via the Commonwealth’s Enterprise eGrants system. Following this, Full Applications will be accepted from September 1, 2025, through November 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM. All application materials, including supplemental forms, detailed project narratives, budgets, commitment letters, environmental questionnaires (NETL Form 451.1-1/3), and maps, must be submitted online—hard copies will not be accepted. For small utility applicants, verification through EIA Form 861 is mandatory. Applications are evaluated based on seven core criteria: targeting investments in the worst-performing circuits, improving grid reliability and resilience, enhancing economic resilience, promoting workforce benefits, achieving environmental improvements and GHG reductions, improving outcomes in both rural and urban communities, and demonstrating project readiness. Evaluation metrics include detailed data on service areas, projected outage reductions, job creation, and environmental impact. Applications must provide substantiating documentation for all claimed benefits. For assistance, applicants can refer to the PA GRG Round 2 Guidance Document, Full Application Instructions, and the Enterprise eGrants system user guide. For technical support related to the application system, contact the Enterprise Help Desk at 833-448-0647 or email radcedcs@state.pa.us. The funding program is not offered on a rolling basis but is recurring, with future rounds expected beyond the current cycle.

Ensure all required forms are uploaded correctly and match documentation is complete. Consult the Step-by-Step Guide and review scoring criteria.