Funding will advance energy affordability, reliability, and security
May 12, 2026
Estimated Read Time min
WASHINGTON—The Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership (C‑MAP), led by the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Electricity (OE), today announced a new funding opportunity offering up to $2.5 million in direct project support and approximately $1 million in technical assistance to build or enhance microgrids serving remote or isolated communities, as well as tribes.
This funding opportunity will help energy providers and local governments improve microgrid systems that deliver affordable, reliable, and secure electricity in remote areas with high energy costs and poor grid reliability. Microgrids generate, store, and manage electricity within a defined boundary and can operate either independently or in coordination with the larger grid, providing a local solution to power disruptions.
“America’s remote industries play an essential role in our national prosperity, and unlocking their full potential requires energy systems built for modern demands even in the most challenging conditions,” said Dan Ton, the OE Microgrid Research and Development Program Manager and OE lead for C-MAP. “C‑MAP is deploying innovative microgrid research and resources to deliver dependable power where it’s needed most, opening the door to new investment, stronger local economies, and expanded opportunities for the skilled workforce that drives these regions forward.”
This is C‑MAP’s second funding solicitation, with this round placing a strong emphasis on microgrid solutions that support industrial development, including large energy users such as critical mineral operations and enterprise‑scale computing centers. Strengthening microgrid infrastructure can help industrial, commercial, public safety, and national security facilities access energy systems that are more affordable, reliable, and secure.
Projects funded through this effort are meant to demonstrate clear, well‑documented, and measurable microgrid innovation. These examples should support the development of common configurations and development approaches that additional communities and industries can replicate within their own contexts.
Selected projects will receive $200,000–$575,000 in direct funding, along with up to 24 months of technical and administrative support from national laboratories and community partners. Awardees will develop replicable microgrid models and advance OE‑supported research toward commercialization.
The solicitation addresses five topic areas:
- Regional Microgrid Coordination: Supporting regional collaboration to improve reliability, resilience, security, and affordability for community-based microgrids
- Microgrid Integration with Large Load Energy Consumers: Providing resources to allow local utilities to work more closely with consumers with high energy needs
- Microgrid Development: Assisting detailed design efforts for major upgrades of new or existing microgrid energy systems
- Microgrid Transformation: Providing direct support for the implementation of innovative microgrid improvements
- Microgrid Assessment for Industrial or Other Large Load Energy Consumers: Assisting large energy consumers considering implementation of an advanced microgrid energy system.
Proposals are due July 2, 2026.
Eligible lead applicants include non‑profit entities supporting community based microgrid energy systems in remote areas of the U.S., including energy cooperatives; state and local governmental entities; and any federally recognized American Indian or Alaska Native Tribe or village, including any Alaska Native village or regional corporation established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. U.S. businesses with the required SAM registration and DUNS number are also eligible under Topic Area 5.
Proposed microgrids applications must been in areas of the U.S. with no more than 10,000 people and electricity costs exceeding 150 percent of the national median.
Register for the informational webinar about the funding solicitation on May 26, 2026, and learn more about all C-MAP resources.
About C-MAP
C-MAP brings together organizations and energy‑sector stakeholders committed to advancing next‑generation microgrid technologies. NLR administers C‑MAP with support from DOE national laboratories, nonprofit organizations, and other partners to strengthen energy systems in under‑resourced and industrially important remote regions.
In addition to this funding opportunity, C‑MAP offers free resources to support communities, organizations, and industries at any stage of microgrid planning or development. Through Microgrid Support Services, applicants and stakeholders can request short‑term, on‑demand technical assistance to help address specific microgrid questions or challenges.
C‑MAP also hosts the Community Microgrid Innovation Exchange (C‑MIX), an online library featuring hundreds of publicly available tools, case studies, reports, webinars, and other resources designed to guide users from early concept through deployment using common and replicable approaches.