FY 2026 Energizing Insular Communities Program
This grant funds projects in U.S. territories to boost local energy production, cut electricity costs, and improve energy infrastructure and reliability, reducing dependence on foreign fuels.
Funder: Department of the Interior
Due Dates: June 8, 2026 (Full application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $15,000,000 per award; estimated total program funding: $15,000,000; ~10 awards expected.
Summary: Supports energy strategies in U.S. territories to reduce reliance on imported fuels, lower electricity costs, and improve energy infrastructure and efficiency.
Key Information: Only local government entities, utilities, semi-autonomous agencies, and higher education institutions in Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, and CNMI are eligible.
Description
The Energizing Insular Communities (EIC) Program, administered by the Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs, provides grant funding to support energy strategies in the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The primary objectives are to promote domestically produced energy, reduce dependence on imported fuels, lower electricity costs, and enhance the performance, efficiency, and reliability of energy infrastructure.
Eligible projects must be aligned with the territory’s strategic energy plan, energy action plan, or integrated resource plan. Projects may include energy supply and efficiency improvements using commercially available technology (e.g., natural gas, diesel, geothermal, waste to energy, biogas, energy storage, and transmission), but solar, wind, and pilot projects are not eligible. Strong preference is given to proposals utilizing domestically produced components and materials.
