Energy Infrastructure Resilience Grant Program

To improve application quality and provide applicants with an opportunity to receive feedback before submitting a final application, DEQ has implemented a two-step application process. All applicants must submit a draft application to DEQ by September 17, 2026, to be eligible to submit a final application in eMACS. Draft applications must be emailed to Jessi Finstad for review.

• Beartooth Electric Cooperative
• Big Horn County Electric Cooperative
• Flathead Electric Cooperative
• Lincoln Electric Cooperative
• Marias River Electric Cooperative
• Northern Lights Inc. - Metering Response
• Northern Lights Inc. - Aerial Drone
• NorthWestern Energy - Billings
• NorthWestern Energy - Butte
• NorthWestern Energy - Helena
• NorthWestern Energy - Missoula
• Park Electric Cooperative - VIGOR
• Park Electric Cooperative - WINGS
• Sun River Electric Cooperative
• Vigilante Electric Cooperative - System Monitoring
• Vigilante Electric Cooperative - Undergrounding

Start Here

• 2026 Phase 1: Request for Applications

Complete Your Application

• Attachment B: Application Form
• Attachment B2: Budget Justification
• Attachment C: Environmental Questionnaire
• Attachment D: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Form (SF-LLL)
• Attachment E: Cost Match Commitment Letter

Cost Share & Eligibility 

• Cost Share Requirements - Awardees are required to provide 100% cost share for large utilities, or 33% for eligible small utilities. In addition, all awardees are required to provide a 15.5% state cost share in accordance with Montana's program requirements.
• Eligible Applicants - Electric Grid Operators, Electricity Storage Operators, Electricity Generators, Transmission Owners or Operators, Distribution Providers, and Fuel Suppliers.
• Eligible Projects - Projects that strengthen and modernize the electric grid to reduce the consequences of disruptive events like extreme weather and wildfires. Eligible measures include grid hardening, fire-prevention systems, vegetation management, undergrounding electrical equipment, and deploying distributed energy resources or microgrids.

• Build America, Buy America (BABA) – All iron, steel, and manufactured products, and construction materials that are permanently incorporated into an infrastructure project must comply with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) domestic preference requirements.

• Davis-Bacon Act/Prevailing Wage – Section 40101(d) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) requires all laborers and mechanics on federally funded projects that involve construction, alteration, or repair to be paid prevailing wage and benefits.

• National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) – Awardees must complete the DOE NEPA review process to receive funding. This process requires submitting a detailed Environmental Questionnaire (EQ) to the DOE before implementing any ground-disturbing or construction activities.

Planning & Assessment Tools

• FEMA Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool (RAPT)
• Interruption Cost Estimator (ICE) Calculator
• State of the Grid Report - Baringa
• DOE Grid Deployment Office guidance

Technical References

The following resources are provided to help applicants identify system vulnerabilities, evaluate resilience needs, and develop competitive project proposals. Use of these resources is optional but may strengthen your application.

• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) Electric Grid Modernization
• PNNL Grid Resilience and Reliability for Grid Architecture
• National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Grid Resilience Resources Library

What if an eligible entity has multiple projects or the same project but multiple locations? Do we have to apply for separate projects and/or locations?

• Yes, if the applying entity is applying for funding on multiple eligible projects, or the same project in multiple locations, the entity must submit a separate application for each project and/or location.

Can we be reimbursed on project activities than began before receiving approval from the U.S. Department of Energy?

• Recipients are only eligible for reimbursements on project activities that occurred after a contract has been fully executed.

Are there waivers available for Build America Buy America (BABA)?

• Yes, the 3 primary waivers include the Non-Availability, Unreasonable Cost, and Public Interest waivers. The most common type used for grid resilience projects is the non-availability waiver. DOE’s waiver process is very slow, so we highly encourage applicants who anticipate needing a BABA waiver to submit the waiver to DEQ as early as possible after application selection. More information can be found on DOE’s website.

Is Davis-Bacon a requirement for all entities?

• Yes, Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) requirements apply to work that involves construction, alteration, or repair paid for with federal funds.

Do we need to submit weekly certified payroll reports?

• Yes, certified payroll reports will need to be submitted for work involving construction, alteration, or repair. The certified payroll reports will be submitted through LCPtracker.

Do I need to submit certified payroll reports to LCPtracker during the design phase?

• No, certified payroll reports are only required for laborers performing construction activities.

What is LCPtracker?

• LCPtracker is a third-part software application contracted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the submission of weekly, certified payroll reports. LCPtracker allows for certified payroll reports and workforce data to be uploaded and electronically signed. For more information on LCPtracker visit DOE's website.

What kind of training is available for LCPtracker?

• Contractors/subrecipients will need to complete the LCPtracker Contractor Training presented by LCPtracker. Sign up for the training by emailing training-DOE-BIL-DBLS@lcptracker.com.

What reporting requirements are associated with this grant?

• Subrecipients are required to submit Quarterly Progress Reports quarterly and an Annual Metrics and Impact report due December 30.

Presentation Slides

Presentation Slides:

• Department of Environmental Quality Presentation on grid resilience funding objectives, background, reporting metrics, and updates.
• LBNL Presentation on grid resilience metrics for utilities.
• Baringa Consulting Presentation on resilience planning and investment options for extreme weather hazards in Montana.