NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Grid Modernization Grant Program

The State of New Mexico, Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) Energy Conservation and Management Division (ECAM) is requesting applications pursuant to 17.9.588 New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC), Grid Modernization Grant Program, from government entities for grid modernization projects to assist New Mexico in developing a modern electric grid that transitions the state to 100-percent zero-carbon electricity resources.

Grid modernization projects are those that make improvements to electric distribution or transmission infrastructure to accommodate or facilitate the integration of renewable electric generation resources with the electric distribution grid or otherwise enhance electric distribution or transmission grid reliability, grid security, demand response capability, customer service or energy efficiency or conservation.

Eligible Applicants include municipalities and county governments; state agencies; state universities; public schools; post-secondary education institutions; and Indian nations, tribes, and pueblos.  All projects must take place within New Mexico.

Projects must fit within one of three types.

Type 1: projects are original research projects that advance the state’s understanding and appreciation of grid function, reliability, resilience, security and operation as it relates to the integration of renewable and zero-carbon resources, including impacts on customer behavior, operations and maintenance costs or the value of specific grid technologies;

Type 2 projects consist of pre-construction or design activities to support grid modernization construction/installation projects;

Type 3 projects involve construction, installation, operation and verification of a grid modernization technology at a project site.

Type 1 and Type 2 Projects shall be completable within two years after the date of the fully executed contract and Type 3 projects must be completed within 4 years after the fully executed contract.

Applicants may obtain the notice if funding opportunity (NOFO) below.

A preproposal webinar was held on June 15, 2026 at 11 a.m. MDT on Microsoft Teams. The slides from this presentation are posted below. 

Written answers to questions are posted to this page (see NOFO FAQs below).

Applicants shall submit questions and applications to:

Chadette Pfaff
EMNRD- ECAM
1220 South St. Francis Drive
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
Chadette.pfaff@emnrd.nm.gov
(505) 469-6970

Applications must be submitted by August 15, 2026. ECAM may award multiple agreements under this NOFO. To be considered for funding, applications must be complete and must demonstrate that the project will meet all of the stipulated evaluation criteria.