Remote communities eligible for microgrid funding and technical assistance
News | Published on June 17, 2026 at 4:11pm GMT+0000 | Author: Tucker Henderson
0By Val Ankeny
Senior policy associate,
Center for Rural Affairs
Rural communities looking to improve electricity reliability and affordability may be eligible for support through the Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership (C-MAP).
The program, offered through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity, provides funding and technical assistance to help eligible communities build, operate, or improve microgrid systems. Proposals are due July 2 and may include requests of $200,000 to $575,000 and up to 24 months of technical assistance. Projects must serve areas with populations of no more than 10,000 people and high electricity costs.
Americans living and working in remote areas often have less reliable energy systems and some of the highest energy costs. For rural communities, tribes, energy cooperatives, local governments, and nonprofits, microgrids can strengthen local energy systems and better prepare for future needs. A microgrid is a local energy system that can operate with the larger electric grid or independently when needed. As a result, communities with a microgrid can keep power flowing during outages, reduce dependence on long-distance power lines or imported fuel, and support more stable energy costs.
C-MAP funding can support planning, design, coordination, and improvement activities. Previous awards have included efforts to develop workforce and maintenance strategies for isolated areas, complete feasibility assessments and construction-ready designs for microgrids with battery storage and on-site generation, and explore ways to increase tribal revenues and reduce fuel imports through electrification for power generation, heating, and transportation.
For many rural communities, early infrastructure planning like engineering studies and technical assessments can be difficult to fund. C-MAP can help with those first steps and build stronger partnerships with utilities, technical experts, and local development organizations.
For more information or to apply for Microgrid Support Services, visit energy.gov/oe/community-microgrid-assistance-partnership or view the full funding opportunity on sam.gov.