HR4990-119

What This Bill Does

The Wildfire Grid Resiliency Act creates a demonstration program at the Department of Energy to develop and test new technologies that protect the electric grid from wildfire damage. The program runs from 2026 through 2029 and focuses on two main areas: monitoring vegetation near power lines to prevent fires, and improving safety equipment for firefighters and other emergency workers who respond to electrical grid emergencies during wildfires.

Who Benefits and How

National Laboratories are the primary beneficiaries, receiving $40 million in total grant funding ($10 million per year for four years) to develop and demonstrate wildfire resilience technologies. Electric utility companies, particularly those operating in wildfire-prone states like California, Arizona, and Colorado, benefit indirectly by gaining access to proven technologies that could reduce their wildfire liability and infrastructure damage costs. Technology companies that manufacture vegetation monitoring equipment, grid sensors, and safety gear for first responders gain potential revenue opportunities as their products may be selected for demonstration projects and subsequent commercialization. First responders—including firefighters, utility workers, and emergency personnel—benefit from enhanced safety technologies designed specifically to protect them during grid-related wildfire emergencies.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Taxpayers fund the $40 million authorization through the federal budget over four years. While this is a relatively modest appropriation compared to many federal programs, it represents a real cost borne by the general public. Department of Energy administrators, specifically those in the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, take on additional administrative responsibilities for managing grant applications, overseeing demonstration projects, and evaluating results—adding to their existing workload without a specified increase in administrative funding.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the "Resilience Accelerator Demonstration Program" within the Department of Energy to fund wildfire grid resilience research
• Authorizes $10 million per year for fiscal years 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029 (totaling $40 million)
• Limits grant recipients to National Laboratories only (excluding private companies, universities, or state agencies)
• Focuses demonstration projects on two specific technology categories: vegetation management monitoring systems and first responder safety enhancement technologies
• Requires the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response to administer the program