Summary

Creates a Department of Energy grant program to fund projects that reduce wildfire risk and improve electric grid reliability. The program will award grants to public, municipal, cooperative, investor-owned, and certain federal utilities for activities like undergrounding lines, hardening equipment, vegetation management, sensors, microgrids, and storage, with $15 billion authorized per year for FY2027–2036 and matching requirements for recipients.

Key Points

• Creates a DOE grant program funding projects that reduce wildfire risk and improve grid reliability for eligible utilities.
• Authorizes $15 billion per year for FY2027–2036 to carry out the program.
• At least 40% of funds must support wildfire-reduction projects; at least 20% must go to utilities selling ≤4,000,000 MWh/year.
• Grants cover many activities: undergrounding, hardening, sensors, vegetation management, microgrids, storage, seismic upgrades, and more.
• Recipients generally must match grants dollar-for-dollar, with a reduced match for small utilities (percentage unspecified in text).
• Applicants for wildfire grants must submit mitigation plans; reliability applicants must report past and planned reliability actions.
• Technical assistance and staffing grants are allowed and are excluded from set-asides and matching requirements.
• DOE must set up the program within 90 days and report biennially to congressional energy committees starting two years after enactment.

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