The Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership (C-MAP) provides funding and technical support for microgrid systems that enhance electricity reliability and security, particularly in remote areas of the United States.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Electricity (OE) helps communities and energy providers to design, develop, repair, revitalize, or improve isolated microgrid systems. C-MAP administrators also synthesize knowledge and data to advance innovation in the microgrid technology market.
Off-Grid Innovation
C-MAP recognizes that each community has different needs and is in its own stage of adopting microgrid technologies. OE offers various opportunities to meet energy providers where they are.
Outcomes of participating in C-MAP can include:
- Improved operation of existing microgrids
- Construction-ready engineering plans for microgrid development
- Lower or stabilized energy costs from using locally available resources
- Workforce capacity for long-term operations and maintenance
- Solutions to address poor power quality and outages
- Relationships with local development organizations and technical support among industry and local colleges and universities.
Built for long-term sustainability, the microgrids developed in partnership with C-MAP will provide practical insights for developers and industry and demonstrate technology solutions and operational improvements that can be replicated nationwide.
Access Microgrid Assistance
C-MAP leadership will issue a request for proposals with opportunities for funding, but interested applicants can contact the program at any time. Proposals may be submitted by nonprofit entities, including energy cooperatives; state and local government entities; and any federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribe and village.
C-MAP will also bring together individuals and organizations to exchange, compile, and share microgrid knowledge. Knowledge sharing can take various forms, including a repository of data and resources, peer-to-peer exchanges, and trainings and workshops. Any communities that are interested in microgrids—including vendors, energy providers, researchers, academics, policymakers, and government officials—are encouraged to participate in these networking opportunities.
Partner Organizations
Communities can rely on their project officer and regionally based implementing partners for ongoing support—whether that means workforce development, capital planning, or future-ready infrastructure strategies. These efforts help ensure that communities can confidently design, develop, and maintain microgrid systems. Some examples of partners include:
- Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy
- The Alaska Center for Energy and Power
- Renewable Energy Alaska Project
- Arctic Energy Ambassadors
- Sundance Consultants
- Office of Indian Energy
- Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute
- Hawai‘i State Energy Office
C-MAP partners play a key role in fostering innovation and sharing practical knowledge to advance microgrid adoption.
FAQs
The goal of C-MAP is to lower customers’ energy bills and improve electrical service to residents and businesses while advancing microgrid innovation as a driver of energy independence in remote and isolated parts of the country. Directed technical support and funding will empower participants to climb the energy value chain by improving the operational efficiency of microgrids and harnessing a variety of energy resources.
C-MAP supports communities or groups of communities that are either developing or have developed microgrid energy systems. Funds can be used to identify technical needs for improving or expanding an existing microgrid system and support the repairs or improved integration of failed equipment. For example, an awardee that previously completed a general feasibility study for a microgrid could take the next step to develop a detailed conceptual design. Funding can also be used to train local utility staff in successful microgrid design, operation, or optimization.
Yes, C-MAP can support capacity building for microgrid operations or maintenance through direct technical assistance or workforce development programs led or coordinated by a regional partner organization.
Individual community projects are expected to be completed in 18 to 24 months. Once the project is concluded, communities will continue to partake in the knowledge sharing and resources offered by their peers in the microgrid innovation network.
The Microgrid Innovation Network brings together individuals and organizations to exchange, compile, and share microgrid knowledge. The network connects communities seeking technical support with organizations that assist in the development of microgrid systems—fostering solutions that improve resilience, reduce energy costs, and support greater energy independence.
Knowledge sharing among partners takes many forms, including a microgrid-specific document repository, a web-based peer-sharing platform, and an annual in-person workshop. Communities, energy providers, researchers, vendors, and public officials interested in advancing microgrids are encouraged to participate.
Yes. Communities are encouraged to apply to C-MAP for focused microgrid assistance that can complement support received from other federal programs, such as Communities LEAP (Local Energy Action Program), the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project, the Energy to Communities program, or the Office of Indian Energy.
The competitiveness depends on the total number of applicants. When a proposal is not selected, C-MAP will notify the applicant, and the regional partner will continue its support to revise the proposal and identify other resources or funding opportunities that can better address the community’s specific challenges.
C-MAP uses DOE’s definition of a microgrid as “a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid.” Community microgrids are often designed to operate primarily in grid-connected mode, with a point of connection to the bulk system. These systems may be eligible for C-MAP, but the microgrid is expected to operate independently or in island mode for long periods of time.
C-MAP Projects
C-MAP issued a request for proposals in October 2024, and selections were announced in June 2025. In addition to $5.5 million in direct funding to communities, C-MAP will provide more than $2.6 million for technical expertise provided through DOE’s National Laboratories and local partners.
Learn more about the selected projects. (Note the funding does not include cost share.)
Alaska Municipal League – Alaska: Five microgrid-powered communities will investigate operational, development, workforce, and operations and maintenance strategies that serve isolated and islanded areas with diverse conditions and energy technologies. (Amount: $574,459)
- Partners: Alaska Municipal League, cities of St. Paul, Sitka, King Cove, Galena, and Ouzinkie
Choggiung Limited – Alaska: In Dillingham, the project partners will complete feasibility assessments and construction-ready designs for a microgrid with battery energy storage for energy resilience, on-site generation to reduce fuel imports, and distribution network enhancements for improved reliability, and a feasibility assessment for the replacement of the current supervisory control and data acquisition system. The project will support an important port and save an estimated $290,000 per year for residents who are paying high electricity costs of $0.56/kWh. (Amount: $299,925)
- Partners: City of Dillingham, with Nushagak Electric & Telephone Cooperative Inc. and DeerStone Consulting
Kawerak Inc. – Alaska: Five Bering Strait villages seek to build capacity to manage their stand-alone diesel microgrids with the addition of solar energy and storage systems provided through a planned grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. With the C-MAP award, the village members will develop governance frameworks, operational plans, and maintenance strategies for long-term system sustainability. (Amount: $295,000)
- Partners: Villages of Brevig Mission, Teller, Koyuk, Elim, and Savoonga, with the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, and DeerStone Consulting
Kwig Power Company – Alaska: Six microgrid-powered villages across the Calista and Lower Kuskokwim region will leverage shared cultural knowledge, technical experience, and workforce to develop strong utility models for microgrid operational and development efficiencies in the face of challenges, such as coastal erosion and land loss, permafrost thawing, and high energy costs. (Amount: $650,000)
- Partners: Villages of Atmautluak, Chefornak, Kipnuk, Kongiganak, Kwigillingok, and Tunututuliak, and Intelligent Energy Systems LLC
Metlakatla Indian Community – Alaska: Metlakatla Power & Light has been modernizing and refurbishing assets across the islanded energy system and recognizes the need for a microgrid operating system to effectively incorporate the new infrastructure. The project will result in a 100% construction-ready engineering design of a microgrid controls system and capacity building for utility staff. (Amount: $315,932)
- Partners: Metlakatla, Metlakatla Power & Light, Baker Tilly Advisory, and RESPEC
Naknek Electric Association – Alaska: Naknek, a coastal fishing community and the host of several seasonal fish processing centers, has a load that ranges between 2 and 15 megawatts. Key upgrades to the controls on the diesel-based microgrid will allow for direct efficiency gains, the incorporation of a battery for reserve power, and the future addition of local generation to meet fluctuating demand. (Amount: $393,184)
- Partners: Naknek, Electrical Power Systems, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Native Village of Kluti-Kaah – Alaska: Facing poor power quality and frequent power disruptions, the Kluti-Kaah Tribe seeks to analyze the costs, benefits, and feasibility of implementing a grid-connected microgrid with local energy production compared to upgrading long distribution lines to meet increasing loads and resilience goals. (Amount: $279,100)
- Partners: Copper Center, Copper Valley Electric Cooperative, Electric Power Systems, and DeerStone Consulting
Nome Joint Utility Systems – Alaska: Nome’s project focuses on system upgrades to their diesel-powered microgrid with expected direct efficiency gains while also priming for the future integration of additional on-site generation. Upgrading the supervisory controls system, the microgrid controls, and the feeder and transformer relays should reduce energy costs by 20% to 30%. (Amount: $398,918)
- Partners: City of Nome, Electrical Power Systems, Kawerak Inc., and Village of Soloman
Oceti Sakowin Power Authority – South Dakota: Five Sioux Tribes are collaborating to improve reliable energy services for key Tribal businesses and adjacent Tribal housing. Developing a common approach will improve the sustained stewardship of the existing energy infrastructure and the incorporation of assets that have been acquired but are not effectively integrated. (Amount: $546,425)
- Partners: Cheyenne River, Crow Creek, Oglala, Rosebud, and Yankton Sioux, South Dakota; and Colusa Indian Energy Corp
Organized Village of Kwethluk – Alaska: Four villages will address low energy reliability by developing standardized microgrid configurations that balance regional scalability with community-specific flexibility. The team will explore how to increase Tribal revenues and offset fuel imports with electrification for power generation, heating, and transportation as well as a model for collaborative operations and maintenance between neighbors. (Amount: $500,000)
- Partners: Villages of Kwethluk, Akiachak, Akiak, and Tuluksak, and Intelligent Energy Systems LLC
Tanadgusix Corporation (TDX) Power LLC – Alaska: The utility of an Aleutian fishing community will revitalize an existing microgrid, remedying efficiency and functionality issues across several assets, in collaboration with the community and major businesses. The goal is to reduce fuel consumption by up to 100,000 gallons per year and reduce energy costs by upwards of $450,000 per year. (Amount: $221,123)
- Partners: Town of Sand Point, Tanadgusix Corporation, Alpine Energy Group, DeerStone Consulting, and Trident Seafoods
Tanana Chiefs Conference – Alaska: Tanana Chiefs Conference will use C-MAP funding and technical assistance to solve persistent operational challenges in the Hughes microgrid with a focus on the microgrid controller, power inverter, and improved integration and interoperability of diesel, photovoltaics, and battery assets for improved long-term system sustainability. (Amount: $400,000)
- Partners: Town of Hughes, Electrical Power Systems, and Generac Industrial Power (Ageto)
The Kuskokwim Corporation – Alaska: The Kuskokwim Corporation will complete a full design with implementation and maintenance plans for a microgrid integrating diesel, photovoltaics, and battery energy storage. The system is expected to reduce fuel consumption by 25% and save community members approximately $90,000 per year on energy costs. (Amount: $298,500)
- Partners: Villages of Upper and Lower Kalskag, DeerStone Consulting, and the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative
Washoe County – Nevada: Washoe County will assess the feasibility and economics of a community-scale multi-technology microgrid to provide backup power to the town of Gerlach, which is located at the outer reaches of the regional transmission lines and faces frequent winter power disruptions. (Amount: $295,000)
- Partners: Town of Gerlach, Gerlach General Improvement District, the Gerlach Citizen’s Advisory Board, Nevada Clean Energy Fund, and Nevada Energy
Contact Us
OE leads C-MAP with management and coordination by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Dan Ton manages the OE Microgrid R&D Program and is the OE lead for C-MAP. Questions and comments can be submitted to cmap@nrel.gov.
Keep up with the Office of Electricity’s work in advanced microgrid research, development, and demonstration.