GRID Assistance Act

The GRID Assistance Act establishes a federal grant program to help rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities improve grid resilience. It provides funding for eligible entities (like states, tribes, or nonprofits) to hire trained "Grid Assistants" who offer free help with planning, financing, and implementing transmission upgrades or infrastructure hardening - particularly for wildfire-prone areas. Grants cover up to 80% of costs for 3-6 years, with priority given to applications backed by state energy offices or those serving high-risk rural utilities. The program requires Grid Assistants to support at least two rural utilities and tracks outcomes like added transmission capacity, cost savings, and reduced wildfire/cyber risks, with $25 million authorized annually from 2025-2029.